Argentina vs Algeria live: updates, goals, score and highlights | Messi’s 2026 World Cup debut

WE ARE HEADING TO THE HYDRATION BREAK HERE FROM KANSAS CITY. 

Algeria look to have their tail between their legs after the goal. They need to go back to do what they were doing in the first quarter of an hour. It's tough to keep that mindset after seeing the brilliance of Messi, but they have to continue to attack. 

Messi showing his sorcery again, playing the ball up the pitch with one touches passes to his teammates. The attack didn't end in anything, but the magic is endless for the 38 year old. 

That one had no chance of being called offside. Another highlight to the never ending reel that Messi has gifted us over the last two decades. 

Zidane did get hands on it, and might have done a bit better but take nothing away from Messi who struck it with pace and precision. 

Both teams have shown signs of intent in the first quarter of an hour. Neither have trouble building up an attack, and both have shown they can score when given the chance. Can they stay onsides? That might be the question. 

Kansas City Stadium is shaking right now as the Argentina fans jump and chant as one. Just like you see in all those game at Boca's stadium or River Plate's stadium. That's the energy that is here in KC tonight.  

They took the free kick short, and missed out on a chance to swing one into the box. Messi of all people was doing his defensive duties and poked it out for a throw in. 

Ait Nouri getting his first chance to stretch his legs up the touchline and he is tripped up by Mandi. Free kick on the left side, and not a bad position to send one in. 

Bodies going down in Algeria's defensive third, and Enzo's name will stay out of the refs book for the moment, but that was close. 

GOAL TAKEN OFF THE BOARD, THIS TIME FOR ALGERIA!!!

Maza made a fantastic run through the midfield and found Chaibi, who was just leaning offside by a half shoulder. Two goals taken off the board, one for each side. 

Messi might not have the burst he used to, but when he gets a chance to start the keeper down, 1 v 1 he is not spoiling that chance. That time Algeria got saved by the flag, but that won't be the last time he has a look at goal. 

MESSI SCORED IN THE FIRST FIVE MINUTES, BUT THE FLAG WENT UP. 

He was slipped in behind the defense and tucked it past Zidane, but Messi knew right away that goal was coming back. 

Messi chasing after a ball on the near touchline, and I don't even think the Messi of 15 years ago would have got to that ball. 

Ball into the box from Almada and Lautaro turned on the header and directed it towards goal but the flag went up for offsides. 

Messi playing in behind Lautaro who will play more of a No. 9 as Messi patros the middle of the pitch. 

How do Algeria come out? Will they play timid against the defending champs? Do they go right after them? It's a tough ask because they are so good up top, they can punish you in the blink of an eye. 

There is not an empty seat in the house. There is a capacity of over 60,000 here and each and every one of the tickets have been sold for this match up. 

WE ARE UNDERWAY FROM KANSAS CITY!!!

4-3-3 for Algeria 

Algeria are coming in with an awfully attacking formation. They have Luca Zidane in goal with Ait Nouri, Bensebaini, Mandi and Belghali in the back. In the midfield it's Bentaleb, Maza and Boudaoui and up top Algeria go with Chaibi, Gourir and Hadj Moussa. 

Both teams coming out of the tunnel, and soon we will be hearing the anthems. Usually it's the Star Spangled Banner capped by the entire stadium yelling “Home of the CHIEFS!!!” The Argentina fans will have something special up their sleeves for their first anthem of this tournament. 

A special guest and Kansas City Stadium

You had to know that Patrick Mahomes was going to be in attendance with the GOAT of soccer in town, playing in the place he calls home. He's a big soccer fan. He goes to the Sportng KC games. Mahomes has one of the best seats in the house to watch the defending World Cup champions take on Algeria. 

World Cup 2026

How Lionel Messi left no stone unturned ahead of one last World Cup

How Lionel Messi left no stone unturned ahead of one last World Cup

When you are pushing 40 and the fate of an entire nation rests on your shoulders, you have to take the upmost precautions. Lionel Messi has been meticulous about his preparations for this 2026 World Cup which will be his Sith and most likely final one. Our Roddy Cons has more.

World Cup 2026

Lionel Messi set to beat Cristiano Ronaldo to historic World Cup milestone

Messi sets another record before CR7

While Messi might not be the leader in international caps he is the all time leader in World Cup matches played. This will be his 27th World Cup match. Those have been spread over 20 years, and six editions of the tournament. He made his first appearance in the World Cup back in 2006 in Italy. Germans Lothar Matthaus and Miroslav Klose have 25 and 24 respectively, and Paolo Maldini played 23 World Cup games with Italy. Cristiano Ronaldo rounds out the top five, and joins Messi as the only players to be a part of six World Cups and participate in all six. Mexico's Memo Ochoa has been selected to El Tri for the sixth straight World Cup but he hasn’t played in all of those tournaments. 

4-4-2 from Argentina

It took a little while, but we have it. Scaloni has his XI and this is what it looks like: Martinez in goal with Montiel on the left with Romero and LIsandro Martinez in the middle with Medina at right back. De Paul in the midfield with MacCallister and Enzo Martinez in the middle and Almada on the right side. Up top it's Messi and Lautaro Martinez as the triggermen. 

How the favorites are fairing

Argentina are at the top of the FIFA World Rankings. That's the good news. The bad news is how the other favorites in the Rankings are fairing almost a week into the tournament. Spain dropped from 2nd to 3rd after their draw to debutants Cape Verde. France played earlier today and took care of Senegal in convincing fashion. England and Portugal play tomorrow but the only other team to win in the top 10 of the FIFA Rankings was Germany with their 7-1 win over Curacao. Brazil and Morocco played to a 1-1 draw. The Netherlands drew with Japan, 2-2 and Belgium and Egypt drew 1-1. 

FIFA Rankings

After winning the World Cup four years ago, and continuing that fantastic form in between Qatar 2022 and USA/Canada/Mexico 2026 they earned themselves the top spot in the FIFA Rankings coming into the tournament. They came in above Spain, France, England and Portugal and will be hoping to end the tournament as the number one ranked team which would almost certainly mean they won the tournament for a second straight tournament. 

Norway on top

Norway just took the lead in Group I, over France. Both teams started their World Cup campaign on the right foot, but it was Norway winning by the biggest scoreline. They beat Iraq 4-1 and now are the group leaders after a first day of action that saw France beat Senegal 3-1.

Tonight's venue 

We are in Kansas City Stadium, home of the Kansas City Chiefs from the months of September to January. It is one of the most historic, loudest stadium in the NFL and with fans from both sides packing the house, this will surely be a historic night from what is usually referred to as Arrowhead Stadium. Argentina fans are known to be some of the most passionate fans in the world, and if they know anything about this stadium they will use it to their advantage during tonight’s kickoff match against Algeria. 

Messi starting in 200th cap

Messi gets the start. No real surprise there, but he there was just a question of his fitness arriving to camp carrying an injury. 

The Argentina XI should be out in no time. We already have Algeria's starting eleven, but the defending champions are taking a little while longer to release their first XI of the World Cup. 

Group J

It's a pretty stacked group in Group J. You could definitely see this being one of the groups in which three teams move on from. You figure Argentina is pretty safe, especially if they win tonight. Algeria and Austria could very well both qualify. Jordan might have it a little tougher. 

Teams 
1. Argentina
2. Algeria
3. Austria
4. Jordan

Schedule

Tuesday, June 16, 9 p.m. (Fox): Argentina vs. Algeria, Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City, Missouri)
Tuesday, June 16, 12 a.m. (FS1): Austria vs. Jordan, Levi's Stadium (Santa Clara, California)
Monday, June 22, 1 p.m. (Fox): Argentina vs. Austria, AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas)
Monday, June 22, 11 p.m. (FS1): Jordan vs. Algeria, Levi's Stadium (Santa Clara, California)
Saturday, June 27, 10 p.m. (Fox): Jordan vs. Argentina, AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas)
Saturday, June 27, 10 p.m. (FS1): Algeria vs. Austria, Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City, Missouri)

World Cup history: Algeria 

This is just the fifth appearance in a World Cup for the Algerians. They first made the tournament in 1982, when they were controversially knocked out of the group stages after beating then powerhouse West Germany and Chile. West Germany and Austria played a game that was dubbed the “Match of Shame” after both sides seemed to make a pact that advanced both teams through after a 1-0 win from the West Germans. They have been to the World Cup just three time since then, and the only time they got past the group stages was back in 2014 when they were beaten in the round of 16 by Germany. 

World Cup history: Argentina 

It's a side that needs no introduction in this tournament. They are three time champions after their last win in Qatar 2022. That puts them fourth all time, behind Brazil with five, and Germany and Italy with four a piece. On top of their three World Cups, they have been finalists another three times, back in the first World Cup in 1930, 1990, and in 2014 from Brazil. This summer they have a chance to make history with a fourth star, and a back to back bid which would make them the first country to win back to back World Cups in a long, long time. 

Algeria XI

Here is Petkovic's first eleven in Algeria's return to the World Cup. Ait Nouri gets the start in the back but Mahrez will start on the bench. That means it's up to Chaibi and Gouri to create up top. 

Star watch: Algeria 

He may not be playing in any of the top leagues in Europe, but class is permanent, and Riyad Mahrez is certainly proof of that. He is 35 coming into this World Cup, but his experience, his wisdom and his skill will be a welcomed addition to this side that as gearing up for another appearance in the knockout round. While he is the star of the show, no one had a better World Cup qualifiers than Mohamed Amoura who scored 10 goals served 4 assists in 8 matches. These two will be heading the attack against an Argentina side that will be eager to get off to a good start. 

Last match: Algeria 

Don't sleep on Algeria. They were knocked out of the AfCon quarterfinals back in January, but since then they haven’t lost a game. They drew against Uruguay in a game back in March, and then beat the Netherlands 1-0 before smacking Bolivia around in a 4-0 route right before the start of the tournament. Aissa Mandi scored the opener in the 45th minute. Algeria made some subs out of the halftime gate, and one of those subs, Amine Gouiri, scored a brace in a matter of minutes to put the Africans up 3-0. The final goal came in the 61st minutes, just three minutes minutes after Gouiri’s brace, and it came from Anis Hadj Moussa to cap the 4-0 win over Bolivia and send this side flying into their opener against the top ranked team in the world. 

Last match: Argentina 

Argentina have rattled off seven straight wins heading into the World Cup, stretching all the way back to September of 2025. Their last tune up before starting the tournament was against Iceland and they had a fairly easy time against the Icelandic side. Barco scored the early goal in the 8th minute,  but it wasn't until Messi came on in the 70th minute that things really started to simplify for the Albiceleste. Messi sent in Laturo Martinez who provoked a penalty which Messi slotted home in the 72nd minute, just two minutes after getting subbed on to the pitch. Then he set up another goal that was polished off by Thiago Almada in the 86th minutes to wrap up a perfect exhibition tour before their title defense tournament. 

We are live from KC  

Hello everyone and welcome to Kansas City, Missouri where the defending World Cup champions have been preparing for a title defense for the last couple weeks, and tonight they take on an Algeria who know they have a chance to get out of this group and make some noise in the knockout rounds. If they can steal a point, or even a miraculous three points against Argentina the goal would become even more reachable, but they are playing the top ranked side in the FIFA World Rankings so expectations have to be realistic coming into this game. We get our first look at the World Cup champs from Qatar back in 2022