Match details
Competition: FIFA World Cup 2026
Matchday 1: Wednesday, 17, June
Time – 4 am
Location: Kansas City, Missouri, USA
Venue: GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium
Why this match matters
Lionel Messi will extend his record of playing more than 26 matches at the FIFA World Cup when he steps onto the pitch on June 16 as his Argentina takes on Algeria in their opening match. Messi will also equal Cristiano Ronaldo’s record of playing at six FIFA World Cups as he is expected to play a role in this one.
At 38, Messi comes as a champion and the World Cup’s best player after guiding his team to glory in Qatar but for many, this tournament co-hosted by the USA, Canada and Mexico is considered his final chapter on the world’s biggest stage.
Most betting markets have priced Argentina between 7.50 and 8.00 to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup and are among the top five contenders alongside Spain, England, France and Brazil.
READ – World Cup Outright Predictions
This team, coached by Lionel Scaloni, could easily be ranked among the best squads of Argentina of all time after winning their first Copa America since 1993 back in 2021, their first ever back-to-back Copa America in 2024 and their first World Cup since 1986 in 2022.
They take a seven-match winning streak to this encounter, scheduled to take place in Kansas City and in those, their defensive discipline has been on show after conceding just a single goal across the seven games. They are, by any measure, in the form of champions.
Messi is primed to win the Golden Boot.
Read why here: World Cup Top Goalscorer Predictions
Algeria come into this fixture on the back of a motivating 1-0 win over the Netherlands in Rotterdam a week ago to kick off. That is a specific kind of motivation that will be relevant when they face Messi’s Argentina. Group J, which comprises Argentina, Algeria, and Austria, is Argentina’s to lose on paper. But Algeria’s recent form, the quality of Riyadh Mahrez, Amoura and Ait-Nouri and the tactical intelligence Petkovic has given this team make this opener far more interesting than the world rankings suggest.
The Desert Foxes last appeared at the World Cup 12 years ago in Brazil in a tournament where they posted their best-ever result at this stage by qualifying for the knockouts. They had previously featured in four editions starting with Spain 1982, Mexico 86 and South Africa 2010.
Under their Swiss-based coach Vladimir Petkovic, they have built a World Cup-grade machine that has 21 games, four draws and only three defeats in 28 matches since taking over in early 2024.
Argentina vs Algeria Head-to-Head
June 2007 – Algeria 3-4 Argentina
This result bears no resemblance to the versions both sides present going into this fixture and therefore carries limited predictive value.
Argentina’s recent form – WWWWW
Argentina’s last five matches
Argentina 3-0 Iceland
Argentina 2-0 Honduras
Argentina 5-0 Zambia
Argentina 2-1 Mauritania
Angola 0-2 Argentina
Goals scored – 14
Goals conceded – 1
Key trends from recent matches
Argentina are in the form of champions after winning all their five friendly matches in the build-up to this World Cup. During that run, they have scored 14 goals, an average of 2.8 per match and conceded only one. This shows that they’re very good going forward with plenty of attacking option that also has Atletico Madrid’s attacker Lautaro Martinez alongside Messi. While their defence is as strong as ever, having conceded only one goal in seven games.
Algeria’s recent form – WWDWL
Algeria’s last five matches
Bolivia 0-4 Algeria
Netherlands 0-1 Algeria
Algeria 0-0 Uruguay
Algeria 7-0 Guatemala
Algeria 0-2 Nigeria
Algeria 1-0 DR Congo
Goals scored – 13
Goals conceded – 2
Key trends from recent matches
Algeria remain unbeaten in four games, where they managed three wins and a draw. The loss to Nigeria at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is their only defeat in nine games, in which they have won seven and drawn one. The Desert Foxes have scored 13 goals and conceded only two to highlight how strong they are defensively. They prepared for this match with a goalless draw against Uruguay before concluding with a resounding 4-0 victory over Bolivia, two nations from South America, as Argentina.
Argentina team news
Injuries: Messi shook off a hamstring soreness worry and featured for 20 minutes and scored a goal in their 3-0 win over Iceland in their final build-up friendly. Otherwise, coach Scaloni now has a full-strength squad for this match.
Key players: without a doubt, Lionel Messi is Argentina’s main man and will be chasing German legend Miroslav Klose’s record 16 goals. He has so far scored 13 in 26 appearances.
Algeria team news
Injuries: there’s no major worry for Algeria.
Key players: besides Riyad Mahrez, who has appeared in 113 games for Algeria and scored 38 goals, Wolfsburg’s Mohamed Amoura brings pace and is a genuine goal threat from wide positions. While Rayan Ait-Nouri, who plays for Manchester City, will bring attacking options from his wing-back position.
Predicted Starting Lineups
Argentina – Emiliano Martínez (GK)-Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martinez, Nicolas Tagliafico – Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister – Lautaro Martinez, Lionel Messi, Julian Álvarez.
Algeria – Luca Zidane (GK)-Rafik Belghali, Aissa Mandi, Ramy Bensebaini, Rayan Ait-Nouri – Hicham Boudaoui, Ibrahim Maza, Fares Chaibi – Riyad Mahrez, Mohamed Amoura, Anis Hadj-Moussa
Best Betting Markets for Argentina vs Algeria
Match winner – Argentina to win
Total goals – Over 2.5 Goals
Both teams to score – yes
Anytime goalscorer – Lautaro Martinez
Where to bet on Argentina vs Algeria
Visit Afropari Uganda to bet on Argentina vs Algeria
