World Cup Day 6 brings heavyweight debuts and a Messi-Zidane storyline

After a night of shocks, led by Cape Verde’s 0-0 draw with Spain, the 2026 World Cup continues with four matches in which almost anything could happen. France, the reigning runner-up, faces Senegal in New Jersey at 22:00, Argentina meets Algeria in Kansas City at 04:00, Iraq plays Norway in Foxborough at 01:00, and Austria takes on debutant Jordan in Santa Clara at 07:00.

France and Senegal are renewing the only official meeting in their history, the 2002 World Cup opener in Seoul, where France arrived as champions and lost 1-0 to Papa Bouba Diop. Now France comes in as the world runner-up and Senegal as African champion, and anything but a French win would be a major surprise. Kylian Mbappe is expected to start, despite criticism in France after he returned to Madrid to spend time with his girlfriend during World Cup preparations. Senegal’s Abdoulaye Seck of Maccabi Haifa is not expected to start, but could play later and become the first player from the Israeli league in this tournament.

Iraq is back at the World Cup for the first time since 1986, when it lost all three group games, and opens against a tough Norway side led by Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard. Norway is also returning after a long absence, having last played at the 1998 World Cup, where it reached the round of 16 before losing to Italy. Haaland, one of the favorites to finish as top scorer, will look for his first goal of the tournament, while Iraq hopes for another upset.

Argentina meets Algeria in the match most likely to keep viewers up all night. Lionel Messi will play his first ever game as world champion, in front of thousands of Argentine fans, in a stadium he knows from MLS. Argentina arrives as world champion, FIFA’s No. 1 ranked team, South American champion, and with seven straight warm-up wins, conceding just one goal. Algeria is returning to the World Cup for the first time since 2014, after topping its African qualifying group with eight wins, one draw and one loss. The game also sets up a notable duel, with expected Algeria goalkeeper Luka Zidane, son of Zinedine Zidane, facing Messi on the biggest stage.