Argentina open World Cup defense against Algeria in Kansas City
Lionel Messi is set for a record sixth World Cup as Argentina begin Group J play against Algeria on Tuesday.
By Lucas Ferreira · Science & Environment Writer
3 min read
Argentina begin the defense of their World Cup title against Algeria on Tuesday in Kansas City, with Lionel Messi set to reach another milestone on football’s biggest stage. The Group J opener matters beyond the holders’ first result: it will offer the first real look at whether Lionel Scaloni’s aging champions can extend a run that includes the 2022 World Cup and Copa America titles on both sides of it.
Al Jazeera reported that the match will be played at Kansas City Stadium in Missouri at 8 p.m. local time, which is 01:00 GMT on Wednesday. Argentina, Algeria, Austria and Jordan make up Group J.
Argentina are trying to become only the third country to retain the World Cup, after Italy in 1934 and 1938 and Brazil in 1958 and 1962, according to Al Jazeera. Scaloni’s team have 17 players back from the squad that won in Qatar, but their average age of 29 is among the highest at the tournament.
Messi reaches another landmark
Messi is expected to captain Argentina in what Al Jazeera reported will be his 200th international appearance and his 27th World Cup match. He is also set to become the first man to appear in six World Cups, though Cristiano Ronaldo could match that mark less than 24 hours later.
The 38-year-old forward, who turns 39 on June 24, has dealt with hamstring problems but has recovered in time for the opener, according to Al Jazeera. Goalkeeper Emi Martinez has also returned from a broken finger, while left back Nicolas Tagliafico will miss the match with a calf injury.
Al Jazeera reported that Scaloni must decide how to set up central defense, with Cristian Romero back after missing the end of Tottenham Hotspur’s Premier League season because of a knee injury. Nicolas Otamendi and Lisandro Martinez are also options.
Algeria arrive with higher ambitions
Algeria last appeared at a World Cup in 2014, when they pushed eventual champions Germany to extra time in the knockout stage. Al Jazeera reported that Vladimir Petkovic’s side qualified for 2026 with a record eight wins and are targeting direct passage to the next round.
Riyad Mahrez will captain Algeria, while 20-year-old Bayer Leverkusen forward Ibrahim Maza is among the players drawing attention. Al Jazeera also highlighted Wolfsburg striker Mohamed Amoura, who led African qualifying with 10 goals and four assists, and Manchester City’s Rayan Ait-Nouri on the left flank.
Algeria are expected to be without defender Ramy Bensebaini because of an ankle injury. Goalkeeper Luca Zidane, son of former France great Zinedine Zidane, has recovered from a broken jaw and is set to start, Al Jazeera reported.
Group format and form
Under the expanded 2026 format, the top two teams in each of the 12 groups advance, along with the eight best third-placed teams, to a new round of 32. Al Jazeera noted that the Group J winner will face the runner-up from Group H.
Argentina enter with five straight wins. Al Jazeera reported that they topped South American qualifying by nine points over Ecuador and then beat Mauritania, Zambia, Honduras and Iceland in warm-up matches.
Algeria’s past five-match form is three wins, one draw and one defeat. Their final warm-ups included wins over the Netherlands and Bolivia, after a March win over Guatemala and a 0-0 draw with Uruguay, according to Al Jazeera.
The teams have met once before, in a friendly 19 years ago in Barcelona, where Messi scored twice in a 4-3 Argentina win. Opta’s supercomputer made Argentina the clear favorite for Tuesday’s match, with Al Jazeera reporting that 25,000 simulations gave Argentina a 68.2 percent win chance, Algeria 13.2 percent and a draw 18.6 percent.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.