Argentina and Algeria met overnight Tuesday to Wednesday in Kansas City at the start of Group J at the 2026 World Cup. Argentina arrived as the defending world champion and one of the favorites to retain the title, something no team has done since Brazil in 1962. Lionel Scaloni’s side topped South American qualifying, highlighted by a 4-1 win over Brazil in Buenos Aires, but the team also still remembers its shock 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia in the opening game of Qatar 2022.
Lionel Messi started for Argentina in his 200th international appearance, alongside Lautaro Martinez and Thiago Almada. Julian Alvarez was on the bench while recovering from an ankle sprain. Leonardo Balerdi was preferred in central defense over Nicolas Otamendi, and Facundo Medina started at left back because Nicolas Tagliafico was injured.
Algeria returned to the World Cup for the fifth time and first since Brazil 2014, when it reached the round of 16 for the only time in its history. The Desert Foxes won their African qualifying group, Group G, with just one defeat. Captain Riyad Mahrez led the attack, with Amine Gouiri and Mohamed Amoura supporting him.
The match was officiated by Poland’s Szymon Marciniak at Arrowhead Stadium. The article also noted Group J’s other teams, Austria and Jordan, and listed the group schedule: Austria vs. Jordan on June 17 in San Francisco, Argentina vs. Austria on June 22 in Dallas, Jordan vs. Algeria on June 23 in San Francisco, Jordan vs. Argentina on June 28 in Dallas, and Algeria vs. Austria on June 28 in Kansas City. In the opening minutes, Lautaro Martinez set up Messi for a goal that was ruled out for offside.
