Argentina vs. Algeria
Lionel Messi and the Argentine national team kick off their quest to defend their World Cup crown on Tuesday against Algeria.
Messi and his teammates will be looking to avoid the kind of opening-match setback they faced four years ago.
Back in 2022, a shocking defeat to Saudi Arabia proved to be their only misstep on the road to winning the trophy in Qatar.
This time around, a stronger start is anticipated in Kansas City, especially against an Algerian side that lacks the same offensive firepower as Argentina.
Match Details – Argentina vs. Algeria
- Date: Tuesday, June 16
- Start Time: 9 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: Fox
- Live Stream: Fox One or Fox Sports app
- Odds (via FanDuel Sportsbook):
- Argentina: -270 (bet $270 to win $100)
- Algeria: +800 (bet $100 to win $800)
- Draw: +360
Argentina’s primary objective on Tuesday is to sidestep an early misstep similar to the one from four years ago. Their group-stage loss to Saudi Arabia remains one of the most surprising results in recent World Cup history. However, Argentina bounced back from that defeat to win six straight matches and ultimately lift the World Cup trophy.
There is noticeably less pressure on Messi and the squad heading into the 2026 tournament, now that they have finally secured a championship during the Messi era. That newfound sense of accomplishment may allow La Albiceleste to play with greater freedom right from the opening whistle, rather than forcing the action out of desperation.
Head coach Lionel Scaloni has brought an experienced roster to the World Cup. Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez serve as the primary attackers alongside Messi. Together, the two forwards have recorded 51 goals across 128 international appearances.
Argentina’s defensive line is also packed with players who were part of the 2022 World Cup-winning squad. Few changes have been made from the group that entered the tournament in Qatar four years ago. This consistency and familiarity within the team should help Argentina launch a fast start in Kansas City.
Algeria enters the Group J clash as a significant underdog for good reason. The African side has advanced past the group stage only once in four previous World Cup appearances.
Riyad Mahrez, the former Manchester City and Leicester City star, is the key player to watch for Algeria. He ranks second in his nation’s history for both appearances (116) and goals (38). Other notable names on the Algerian roster include Manchester City’s Rayan Aït-Nouri, Borussia Dortmund’s Ramy Bensebaini, and Marseille’s Amine Gouiri.
A victory is certainly the expectation for Argentina. However, even a loss would not put them in as much danger as it would have four years ago, because eight third-place teams will also advance from the group stage this time around. While there is some margin for error, Argentina may not need it if they assert their dominance over Algeria from the very beginning. A convincing win, highlighted by a strong performance from Messi, could mark the start of a flawless run through Group J for the defending champions.