US Soccer Pride On Display During Most Highly Attended Day in World Cup History

Day 6 at the World Cup was filled with star power, with the greatest star of them all proving to be the fans, who packed four separate stadiums while watching some exciting international competition.

Across New York/New Jersey, Boston, Kansas City, Missouri, and Santa Clara, California, a whopping 281,223 fans poured through the gates of four different American venues, setting a new World Cup record for the most-highly-attended day in the event’s near-100-year history. The first World Cup took place in 1930 and never before have as many soccer diehards filled the stands quite like they did across the USA on Tuesday.

The action the fans were treated to was phenomenal, highlighted by a hat trick recorded by Lionel Messi in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Algeria in Group J. It was the legend’s first World Cup hat trick in his illustrious career, while he tied the all-time World Cup record for goals, equaling Germany’s Miroslav Klose’s 16.

Elsewhere, Kylian Mbappé used a two-goal effort to power France to a 3-1 win over Senegal in Group I, while Erling Haaland found the back of the net twice in his World Cup debut, a 4-1 Norway win over Iraq in Group I.

Finally, in the nightcap, Austria took care of Jordan 3-1 in the Jordanians World Cup debut in Group J.

The event continues on Wednesday with four more matchups, beginning with Portugal and DR Congo in Group K, which features what could be the final World Cup opener for Cristiano Ronaldo.

The USMNT’s next World Cup matchup is scheduled for Friday, when the Americans will take on Australia. The U.S. is coming off a 4-1 win over Paraguay. Australia defeated Türkiye 2-0 in its Group D opener.

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This story was originally published June 17, 2026 at 4:05 PM.