Argentina v Algeria: World Cup 2026 - live

Key Points:

• Lionel Messi begins his final World Cup campaign, holding records for most World Cup matches played (26), six World Cup appearances (tied with Cristiano Ronaldo), and two World Cup golden balls, at age 38.
• The opening match between Argentina and Algeria takes place at Kansas City's Arrowhead Stadium, known for its loud atmosphere and NFL heritage, with favorable weather conditions around 26°C.
• Algeria, coached by Vladimir Petkovic, are seen as a strong but unpredictable team, having an impressive recent record but facing questions about the quality of their opposition and lineup choices.
• Argentina's squad retains much of their 2022 World Cup-winning core, led by Messi, with a 4-3-3 formation and promising young players like Thiago Almada and Nico Paz, although some players have had injury concerns.
• Norway leads Group I after a 4-1 win over Iraq, with Erling Haaland scoring twice, while France secured a 3-1 victory over Senegal, with Kylian Mbappé moving up the all-time World Cup goal scorers list.