- Reigning world champions Argentina are starting their 2026 World Cup campaign in Group J against Algeria at Kansas City Stadium.
- The headline for the squad is Lionel Messi, who is making history by appearing in an unprecedented sixth World Cup tournament.
- Despite some recent injury scares,including goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez’s and defender Cristian Romero’s,both are expected to start.
Reigning World champions Argentina are primed to kick off their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign as they take on a highly competitive Algerian side in a Group J opening fixture at Kansas City Stadium.
Lionel Scaloni’s Albiceleste enter North America with the immense weight of expectation, aiming to become only the third nation in football history to retain the World Cup title.
Standing in their way on matchday one is Vladimir Petković’s Algeria in what marks the first-ever competitive senior meeting between the two nations.
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Manager Lionel Scaloni looks set to lean heavily on the experience that brought global glory in 2022.
The headline remains the timeless Lionel Messi, appearing in an unprecedented sixth World Cup tournament.
Golden Glove winner Emiliano Martínez is locked in to start in goal despite a recent finger fracture suffered in European club action south Aston Villa.
Defensively, Cristian Romero has fully recovered from an injury knock suffered late in the Premier League season and is expected to start alongside the experienced Nicolás Otamendi.
In midfield Rodrigo De Paul will provide the engine next to Alexis Mac Allister and Chelsea’s Enzo Fernández. Up front, Scaloni faces a selection headache but is tipped to opt for Julian Allvarez flanked by Messi and Thiago Almada.
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Should Lionel Scaloni need to alter approach from the substitutes, the Albiceleste boast an incredibly deep and versatile bench capable of turning any match on its head.
The luxury is having an elite, world-class striker available to sub on, with Inter Milan’s marksman Lautaro Martínez representing a secondary option if Julián Álvarez gets the nod to start.
Highly-rated Como playmaker Nico Paz, Juventus winger Nicolás González, and Palmeiras’ prolific forward José Manuel López also offer options off the bench for Scaloni .
Argentina predicted lineup
Emiliano Martínez, Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Nicholas Otamendi,Nicolás Tagliafico, Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister, Lionel Messi, Julián Álvarez, Thiago Almada.
