Argentina vs Algeria Official Lineups, Tuesday, 16 June 2026, World Cup Group J
Here are the official starting lineups for Argentina and Algeria in the opening match of Group J at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This eagerly awaited game is set for Tuesday, June 16, 2026, at 6:00 PM local time (CT) at the Kansas City Stadium (Arrowhead Stadium) in Kansas City. The match features a total of 3 Serie A players and 1 from Serie B. Argentina’s lineup includes Inter Captain and forward Lautaro Martinez, who finished as the top scorer in Serie A and celebrated winning the Scudetto with Inter.
✅ FIFA RANKING
Argentina comes into the 2026 FIFA World Cup holding the No. 1 spot in the world rankings, while Algeria sits at No. 28. The most recent standings, published by FIFA in June 2026 just before the tournament kicks off, highlight a significant difference between these two Group J rivals.
👉 Serie A players called up for 🇦🇷 the Argentina National team:
- Inter forward Lautaro Martinez
- Como forward Nico Paz
👉 Serie A players called up for 🇩🇿 the Algeria National team:
- Hellas Verona defender Rafik Belghali
- Frosinone forward Fares Ghedjemis
👉 Click here for Full 2026 World Cup Squad Lists – Confirmed rosters for all 48 teams.
👉 Click here for 2026 World Cup Group Stage Standings.
🇦🇷 Argentina Starting XI (4-4-2): Emiliano Martínez; Gonzalo Montiel, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martínez, Facundo Medina; Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister, Thiago Almada; Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martínez
Substitutes: Gerónimo Rulli (GK)Juan Musso (GK), Nicolás Otamendi, Marcos Senesi, Nahuel Molina, Nicolás Tagliafico, Valentín Barco, Leandro Paredes, Exequiel Palacios, Giovani Lo CelsoNico Paz, Nico González, Giuliano Simeone, Julián Álvarez, José Manuel López
Head Coach: Lionel Scaloni
Algeria Starting XI (4-3-3): Luca Zidane; Rafik Belghali, Rayan Aït-Nouri, Aïssa Mandi, Jaouen Hadjam; Nabil Bentaleb, Hicham Boudaoui, Houssem Aouar; Amine Gouiri, Mohammed Amoura, Riyad Mahrez (C)
Starting lineups
Substitutes
Argentina World Cup 2026 Squad:
- Goalkeepers: Juan Musso (Atletico Madrid), Geronimo Rulli (Marseille), Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa)
- Defenders: Leonardo Balerdi (Marseille), Nicolas Tagliafico (Lyon), Gonzalo Montiel (River Plate), Lisandro Martinez (Manchester United), Cristian Romero (Tottenham), Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica), Facundo Medina (Marseille), Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid)
- Midfielders: Leandro Paredes (Boca Juniors), Rodrigo de Paul (Inter Miami), Valentin Barco (Strasbourg), Giovani lo Celso (Real Betis), Ezequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea)
- Forwards: Julian Alvarez (Atletico Madrid), Lionel Messi (Inter Miami), Nicolas Gonzalez (Atletico Madrid), Thiago Almada (Atletico Madrid), Giuliano Simeone (Atletico Madrid), Nico Paz (Como), Jose Manuel Lopez (Palmeiras), Lautaro Martinez (Inter)
Algeria World Cup 2026 Squad:
- Goalkeepers: Oussama Benbot (USM Alger), Melvin Masstil (Stade Nyonnaise), Luca Zidane (Granada)
- Defenders: Achraf Abada (USM Alger), Rayan Ait-Nouri (Manchester City), Zinedine Belaid (JS Kabylie), Rafik Belghali (Verona), Ramy Bensebaini (Borussia Dortmund), Samir Chergui (Paris FC), Jaouen Hadjam (Young Boys Bern), Aissa Mandi (Lille), Mohamed Amine Tougai (Esperance)
- Midfielders: Houssem Aouar (Al-Ittihad), Nabil Bentaleb (Lille), Hicham Boudaoui (Nice), Fares Chaibi (Eintracht Frankfurt), Ibrahim Maza (Bayer Leverkusen), Yassine Titraoui (Charleroi), Ramiz Zerrouki (Twente)
- Forwards: Mohamed Amine Amoura (Wolfsburg), Nadir Benbouali (Gyori ETO), Adil Boulbina (Al-Duhail), Fares Ghedjemis (Frosinone), Amine Gouiri (Marseille), Riyad Mahrez (Al-Ahli), Anis Hadj Moussa (Feyenoord)
Argentina official starting lineup against Algeria
Credit via x.com/Argentina
Algeria official starting lineup against Argentina
Photo credit x.com/LesVerts
غرفة تغيير ملابس الخضر جاهزة في انتظار وصول اللاعبين#LesVerts ⭐️⭐️ | #123VivaLAlgérie 🇩🇿 | #WorldCup2026 | #FIFAWORLDCUP pic.twitter.com/S2BOB33mDA
— Équipe d’Algérie de football (@LesVerts) June 16, 2026
وصول اللاعبين | Team arrival 🇩🇿#LesVerts ⭐️⭐️ | #123VivaLAlgérie 🇩🇿 | #WorldCup2026 | #FIFAWORLDCUP pic.twitter.com/mYs19ohVgp
— Équipe d’Algérie de football (@LesVerts) June 17, 2026
Credit via x.com/argentina
Buy FIFA World Cup Tickets
Sports, Football, Soccer, FIFA World Cup Tickets
World Cup Group I Matchday 1
🇦🇷 Argentina – Algeria 🇩🇿
Competition: 2026 FIFA World Cup, Group J (Matchday 1)
Date: Tuesday, June 16, 2026
Kick-off: 6:00 PM (CDT) / 7:00 PM (EDT)
Location: Kansas City Stadium (Arrowhead Stadium)
Kansas City, Missouri
Referee: Szymon Marciniak POL
Assistant Referee 1: Tomasz Listkiewicz POL
Assistant Referee 2: Adam Kupsik POL
Fourth Official: Campbell-Kirk Kawana-Waugh NZL
Reserve AR: Isaac Trevis NZL