Sports & Travel
Messi, Mbappé & Haaland Have World Cup Wins
22 Jun 2026
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NEW
Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It
WARM UP
Think Ahead: Which detail do you think appears in this story?
a) A football player scores three goals in one game.
b) A famous referee retires from international football.
c) A team wins the tournament without scoring any goals.
Ask:
(1) Who is your favourite football player and why do you like them?
(2) Have you ever watched a World Cup match on television?
VOCABULARY
matches
(noun)
champions
(noun)
hat-trick
(noun)
history
(noun)
famous
(adjective)
fantastic
(adjective)
Definition: Games or contests in sports.
Example Sentence: The team played three matches this week.
Definition: Winners of a big competition or tournament.
Example Sentence: Argentina are the world champions.
Definition: Three goals scored by one player in a single game.
Example Sentence: Messi scored a brilliant hat-trick.
Definition: All the things that happened in the past.
Example Sentence: He is the best player in football history.
Definition: Known by many people around the world.
Example Sentence: The famous players scored many goals.
Definition: Extremely good or wonderful.
Example Sentence: It was a fantastic start for the team.
The men's football World Cup has started! Fans are very happy because there are many goals. Three famous football stars played brilliantly in their first matches. They are Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland.
Lionel Messi plays for Argentina. Argentina are the world champions. Messi is thirty-eight years old, but he scored three goals in one game against Algeria. This is called a hat-trick! He has now scored sixteen World Cup goals.
Kylian Mbappé plays for France. France played against Senegal. Mbappé scored two goals in the second half. He is now France's top goalscorer in history! France won the match three-one.
Erling Haaland plays for Norway. This was Haaland's first-ever World Cup match. He was excited to play against Iraq. Haaland scored two goals and helped Norway win four-one. It is a fantastic start for these amazing players!
Listen
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
(1) Why do you think people love watching the World Cup so much?
(2) How would you celebrate if you scored a goal in a football match?
(3) Do you prefer playing sports or watching them on television?
(4) What makes a football player become famous?
(5) Is it important for a football team to work together to win?
(6) If you could meet Messi, Mbappé or Haaland, who would you choose?
FILL IN THE GAPS
FILL THE GAPS
Section 1: Fill in the Gaps
Word Bank:
champions
hat-trick
history
matches
The men's football World Cup has started! Fans are very happy because there are many goals. Three famous football stars played brilliantly in their first _______(1). They are Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland.
Lionel Messi plays for Argentina. Argentina are the world _______(2). Messi is thirty-eight years old, but he scored three goals in one game against Algeria. This is called a _______(3)! He has now scored sixteen World Cup goals.
Kylian Mbappé plays for France. France played against Senegal. Mbappé scored two goals in the second half. He is now France's top goalscorer in _______(4)! France won the match three-one.
Erling Haaland plays for Norway. This was Haaland's first-ever World Cup match. He was excited to play against Iraq. Haaland scored two goals and helped Norway win four-one. It is a fantastic start for these amazing players!
Section 2: Main Idea
What is the main idea of this news story?
a) Norway won the World Cup trophy for the first time in history.
b) Famous football stars made a winning start with great goals at the World Cup.
c) Lionel Messi decided to stop playing football at thirty-eight years old.
UNDERSTANDING
Section 3: True or False
(1) Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick against Algeria. T/F
(2) France lost their opening match against Senegal. T/F
(3) Erling Haaland scored two goals on his World Cup debut. T/F
Section 4: Put Events in Order
Put the following events in the correct order from 1 to 3:
a) Erling Haaland helps Norway achieve a four-one victory over Iraq.
b) Lionel Messi scores three goals to secure a winning start for Argentina.
c) Kylian Mbappé scores twice in the second half to make history for France.
LANGUAGE
Section 5: Vocab Match
(1) champions
(2) matches
(3) hat-trick
(4) history
a) Three goals scored by one player in a single game.
b) Winners of a big competition or tournament.
c) All the things that happened in the past. d) Games or contests in sports.
USE IT
Section 6: Discussion Builder
(1) The football fans are all _______ because their favourite team won the big match.
a) history
b) celebrating
c) matches
(2) Scoring three goals in a single game is a _______ achievement for any striker.
a) fantastic
b) champions
c) debut
Section 7: Sentence Unscramble
(1) A) World Cup B) started C) has D) the men's E) football
(2) A) scored B) goals C) Messi D) three E) brilliant
ANSWER KEY
Warm Up
Answer: a
Section 1: Fill in the Gaps
(1) matches
(2) champions
(3) hat-trick
(4) history
Section 2: Main Idea
Correct Answer: b
Section 3: True or False
(1) True
(2) False
(3) True
Section 4: Put Events in Order
Correct Order:
1: b, 2: c, 3: a
Section 5: Vocab Match
(1) b
(2) d
(3) a
(4) c
Section 6: Discussion Builder
(1) b
(2) a
Section 7: Sentence Unscramble
(1) D-E-A-C-B (The men's football World Cup has started)
(2) C-A-D-E-B (Messi scored three brilliant goals)