Argentina get their World Cup defence underway against Algeria in Kansas City on Tuesday night.
Three and a half years after Lionel Messi guided Argentina to a glorious third World Cup triumph in Qatar, the South American side begin their 2026 tournament as the top-seeded favourites in Group J.
Lionel Scaloni’s men topped South American qualifying with 12 wins from 18 games and also won the 2024 Copa America, while their opponents in this Group J opener qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 2014 as winners of CAF Group G.
Having reached the quarter-finals at last year’s Afcon - and with vivid memories of the round of 16 in their last appearance at this tournament - Vladimir Petkovic’s side are certainly a dark horse to look out for in this group.
Follow live updates from the Group J clash with our liveblog below:
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Argentina vs Algeria | World Cup LIVE
- Live coverage of Group J opener between Argentina and Algeria | Kick-off at 2am BST, live on ITV1
- Lionel Messi's reigning champions begin World Cup title defence
- Algeria make first World Cup appearance in 12 years
- Argentina XI: Martinez; Montiel, Li. Martinez, Romero, Medina; De Paul, Mac Allister, Fernandez; Messi, Almada, La. Martinez
- Algeria XI: Zidane; Mandi, Ait-Nouri, Belghali, Bensebani; Chaibi, Boudaoui, Bentaleb, Maza; Gouiri, Hadj Moussa
Algeria's starting XI
00:52 , Mike JonesAlgeria XI: Zidane; Mandi, Ait-Nouri, Belghali, Bensebani; Chaibi, Boudaoui, Bentaleb, Maza; Gouiri, Hadj Moussa
Messi's longevity
00:50 , Mike JonesNot only does he head his country’s World Cup appearance table, but Leo Messi has more outings in the competition than any other player of any nationality.
Messi has 26 World Cup appearances across five tournaments: Germany 2006, South Africa 2010, Brazil 2014, Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022.
He will also appear in a record-breaking sixth World Cup when taking to the field against Algeria.
Argentina starting XI
00:50 , Mike JonesArgentina XI: Martinez; Montiel, Li. Martinez, Romero, Medina; De Paul, Mac Allister, Fernandez; Messi, Almada, La. Martinez
How Algeria reached the World Cup
00:40 , Mike JonesAlgeria are back in the World Cup for the first time in 12 years.
They sealed their return to the global showpiece by finishing top of Group G in CAF qualifying, winning eight of their 10 games.
Mohamed Amoura outscored everyone else in the continent with 10 goals through qualifying and will hope to continue that form in this tournament.
One to watch from Algeria
00:30 , Mike JonesIbrahim Maza, Bayer Leverkusen
20-year-old Maza impressed at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and could be set for a career-making performance at this World Cup.
An attacking midfielder for Leverkusen, he has been compared to Florian Wirtz, and his maturity and intelligence on and off the ball, plus his physical prowess - particularly in withstanding challenges - make him a major talent to watch.
Algeria's star player
00:20 , Flo CliffordStar player – Riyadh Mahrez, Al-Ahli: At 35 former Manchester City star Mahrez may not be quite in his prime - he no longer plays for the full 90 - but he remains a key force in this side.
The team captain has more than 100 international caps and is an experienced presence in the heart of the team, a role model for the youngsters coming through, as well as a playmaker still capable of moments of magic.
Now playing for Saudi side Al-Ahli he scored four goals and registered eight assists in 27 matches this season.
Algeria guide
00:10 , Flo CliffordAlgeria arrive in the US having enjoyed a confidence boost at the Africa Cup of Nations, where they reached the quarter-finals, and qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 2014 as winners of CAF Group G.
They reached the round of 16 in their last appearance at the tournament so are certainly a dark horse to look out for in this group, but their build-up to the tournament has been patchy - a friendly win over the Netherlands was a great warm-up, but their qualifying was straightforward, with the likes of Guinea and Mozambique not hugely threatening.
Vladimir Petkovic has been known to experiment with different formations, with the hallmark of each being an intense press and fluid style of play, dominating possession, so it will be intriguing to see how they come up against similarly high-pressing sides like Austria, and how they cope against Jordan’s counter-attackers.
Argentina's one to watch
00:00 , Mike JonesFranco Mastantuono, Real Madrid
The 18-year-old winger has become a force to be reckoned with at the Spanish giants, becoming their youngest player to appear in the Champions League, and has matched that for his national side, becoming the youngest player to ever feature for the senior squad aged 17 years, 9 months and 22 days in 2025.
Argentina's star player
23:50 , Flo CliffordStar player – Lionel Messi, Inter Miami: It hardly needs to be said. Despite his advanced years, the 38-year-old remains the focal point and talisman for this side, having finished as top scorer in South American qualifying for the tournament with eight goals. He may not be as quick as he once was but his class remains the same.
Argentina guide
23:40 , Flo CliffordRanked second in the world, Argentina arrive in the US once again among the favourites to lift the trophy and become the first nation to defend their title since Brazil in 1962. The three-time winners have a talented squad with 17 of the 2022 champions returning, such as Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, while their experience will be complemented by a raft of talented youngsters coming through.
They qualified for the World Cup in top spot from South American qualifying, with a goal difference of 21 and nine-point advantage over second-placed Ecuador. Coach Lionel Scaloni is not wedded to a specific formation but has given a strong midfield licence to dictate play, while the side’s many stars means there are multiple creative outlets.
Predicted line-ups
23:30 , Flo CliffordArgentina XI: Emiliano Martinez; Molina, Otamendi, Lisandro Martinez, Medina; De Paul, Fernandez, Mac Allister, Almada; Messi, Alvarez
Algeria XI: Zidane; Belghali, Mandi, Chergui, Ait-Nouri; Bentaleb, Boudaoui; Mahrez, Maza, Amoura; Gouiri
Team news
23:20 , Flo CliffordArgentina left back Nicolas Tagliafico has been ruled out of this match after straining his calf in a warm-up game against Honduras, but Leandro Paredes and Nico Gonzalez are both close to full fitness after muscular problems.
Algeria’s Ramy Bensebaini, who can play left back or centre back, is out with an ankle injury. Otherwise, the underdogs have a full bill of health.
How can I watch it?
23:10 , Flo CliffordViewers in the UK can watch the match free-to-air on ITV 1, ITV X, STV and STV Player with coverage starting at 1:15am BST. It can also be live streamed on ITVX.
When is Argentina v Algeria?
23:05 , Flo CliffordArgentina face Algeria at 2am BST on Wednesday 17 June (8pm CT, Tuesday 17 June) at the Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.
Welcome
23:00 , Flo CliffordHello and welcome to live coverage of Argentina vs Algeria.
The reigning champions get their World Cup title defence underway against one of two teams likely to battle for the second qualifying spot in Group J.
But several of the top teams, including Spain, have struggled in their opening encounters, so anything is possible...
Kick-off is at 2am BST, and we’ll have build-up, team news, and latest updates right here.
