Mbappé Shatters Records, Haaland Strikes Late — FIFA World Cup 2026 Day 3 Was Pure Fire

Day 3 Was All About the World's Best Players Showing Up

Two days of penalty shootouts were fun. But FIFA World Cup 2026 Day 3 was a completely different kind of exciting. This time, the world's best players reminded everyone why they're the world's best players. Mbappé broke a World Cup record. Haaland scored when it mattered most. Mexico made an entire stadium shake. Three matches. Three clean results. Zero penalties needed — and every single game had a moment worth remembering.

Ivory Coast 1-2 Norway: Haaland's Late Tap-In Rewards Norway's Relentless Pressure

Ivory Coast were the better team for most of this match and looked like they could cause a real upset. But then Antonio Nusa changed everything in the 39th minute. He picked up the ball on the left, beat his man with two quick feints, and curled a stunning shot right into the top corner. The goalkeeper had absolutely no chance. Pure quality.

Norway almost made it 2-0 before halftime — Haaland had a close-range chance blocked and Sørloth somehow headed wide with the goal wide open. Those misses almost came back to bite them.

Ivory Coast hit back hard in the second half and it was substitute Amad Diallo who made the difference. He first cleared a dangerous header off the line to keep his team in it — and then, just minutes later, weaved through the entire Norway backline with a brilliant solo run before crashing home a stunning equaliser in the 75th minute. The whole stadium could feel what was coming — extra time looked certain.

Then Haaland happened. 86th minute. A low cross from Sander Berge found him right in the box — and he tapped it home. His fifth goal of the tournament. His 13th goal in 13 straight games for Norway. The man simply does not miss when it counts. Norway are through to the Round of 16 and Ivory Coast go home after one of the best performances of the whole knockout round.

France 3-0 Sweden: Mbappé Just Became the Second Top Scorer in World Cup History

France were ruthless. Sweden's goalkeeper Jacob Zetterström pulled off nine saves — nine — and France still scored three. That alone tells you everything about how good Les Bleus were on the night.

Mbappé put France ahead just before halftime, played through perfectly by Michael Olise, who has been one of the best players of the whole tournament so far. Ten minutes into the second half, Olise did it again — slipping Bradley Barcola through on goal, who turned and drilled it home without even thinking about it. 2-0 and done.

But Mbappé had one more thing to say. He curled home his second in the 74th minute — Olise's assist again — to make it 3-0. That goal moved Mbappé to 18 World Cup goals in total, making him the second highest scorer in World Cup history, sitting just one goal behind Lionel Messi. A record broken. On a Tuesday night. In the Round of 32. That's just Mbappé being Mbappé.

Watch Every Record-Breaking Moment Live — Not on Replay

When Mbappé scored that record-breaking goal and when Haaland tapped in his 86th-minute winner, the reaction in the stadium was electric. That feeling is completely different when you're watching live compared to catching a highlight the next day.

Winbox Live gives you exactly that — every FIFA 2026 match streamed completely free, with no delay and no extra fees. Every goal, every save, every moment of madness as it actually happens. Start watching live on Winbox now, and if you're new, signing up takes less than five minutes — you'll be all set before the next match kicks off.

Mexico 2-0 Ecuador: When a Nation Needs Its Team and Its Team Delivers

This match nearly didn't start on time — a storm rolled through Mexico City and delayed kickoff entirely. But once the whistle blew, Mexico were straight into it. Julián Quiñones fired a right-footed shot into the near post in the 22nd minute and the Azteca exploded.

Nine minutes later it was 2-0. Ecuador couldn't clear their lines, Raúl Jiménez won the ball back, slipped it to Quiñones, got it straight back inside the box, and fired low past the keeper. Two goals in nine minutes. Mexico was completely in control from that point and never looked back. Ecuador gave everything they had in the second half but couldn't find a way through.

The full-time whistle set off scenes inside the Azteca that you could only dream of. Mexico are unbeaten at that stadium across three World Cups and they're through to the Round of 16 in front of their own people. That means everything.

Bigger Stakes, Real Prizes — This Is the Best Time to Bet on FIFA 2026

Six knockout matches are done and every single one has given us something to talk about. Whether you're a long-time football betting Malaysia fan or someone just getting into online football betting for the first time this FIFA season — there has never been a better moment to get involved.

Winbox has raised the maximum stake to RM500,000 per bet for this FIFA period, making every match feel even bigger than it already is. More to win, more to feel, more reason to stay up for every late kick-off.

And if you bet through Maxbet, CMD368, or SBOBET during this World Cup, you're in with a real chance of winning a Rolex Submariner on top of whatever else you take home. Not a voucher. A real Rolex. That's the kind of prize that makes this the most exciting sport betting online season in years.

The best online casino in Malaysia fans trust during the World Cup is right here — and it's ready for Day 4. Log in to Winbox now and don't miss what's coming next.

The Knockouts Are Shifting Gears — The Round of 16 Is Going to Be Brutal

Mbappé chasing Messi's all-time record. Haaland stepped up with Norway facing Brazil next. Mexico is riding the wave of home support at the Azteca. FIFA World Cup 2026 Day 3 proved that when the biggest players turn up on the biggest stage, the result is pure football magic.

Whether you're watching for the love of the game or following every match with your online sports betting picks on Winbox, one thing is certain — the best is still ahead. Stay locked in. The Round of 16 is going to be different.