Messi, Argentina begin World Cup title defence against Algeria: All to know
Key takeaways
- Superstar Lionel Messi is back for a sixth World Cup and leads Argentina into their group match debut against Algeria.
- We might be six days into World Cup 2026, but many purists feel the tournament isn’t truly under way until the defending champions, Argentina, and their iconic star Lionel Messi, take to the stage.
- Lionel Scaloni’s side are seeking to become just the third nation ever to defend a World Cup title after Italy (wins in 1934 and 1938) and Brazil (1958, 1962).
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
Superstar Lionel Messi is back for a sixth World Cup and leads Argentina into their group match debut against Algeria.
xwhatsapp-strokecopylinkgoogle Add Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Argentina's forward Lionel Messi takes part in a training session before their opening match against Algeria [Juan Mabromata/AFP]By Alexander Hoad Published On 16 Jun 202616 Jun 2026Who: Argentina vs Algeria What: FIFA World Cup 2026 Group J match Where: Kansas City Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri, United States When: Tuesday, 8pm (01:00 GMT on Wednesday) How to follow: Keep up with all updates on Al Jazeera Sport
We might be six days into World Cup 2026, but many purists feel the tournament isn’t truly under way until the defending champions, Argentina, and their iconic star Lionel Messi, take to the stage.