Result Argentina - Algeria, Tuesday, 16 June 2026, World Cup Group J The defending champions, Argentina, triumphed over Algeria in the first match of Group J at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Tuesday, June 16, 2026. Fans at Kansas City Stadium (Arrowhead Stadium) were thrilled to witness Lionel Messi in action. The match included 3 Serie A  and 1 Serie B players, including Argentina's own Lautaro Martínez, the Inter Captain and forward, who was the top scorer in Serie A and a Scudetto winner. On the inaugural day of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Lionel Messi celebrated a significant milestone by earning his 200th international cap for Argentina during the Group J match against Algeria. This achievement comes exactly 20 years after his World Cup debut in 2006. With this appearance, he becomes only the third male player in football history to reach the remarkable 200-cap milestone. In a stunning performance,  Lionel Messi matched Miroslav Klose's all-time record of 16 World Cup goals by scoring a hat-trick against Algeria in Argentina's opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.  

 ✅     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 latest FIFA standings, released in June 2026 just before the tournament kicks off, highlight a significant disparity between these two Group J rivals.

 ✅   How are they arriving at this game?

🇦🇷     Argentina: Entering as the clear favorites to lead the group, Argentina boasts a mostly unchanged veteran lineup from their championship run in 2022. This tournament is anticipated to be the last World Cup for captain and global icon Lionel Messi. They approach the opener with an impressive streak of friendly match victories. 🇩🇿    Algeria: Under the management of Vladimir Petkovic, Algeria is making its World Cup return for the first time since 2014. They present a technically skilled team led by veteran Riyad Mahrez, along with promising young talents like Ibrahim Maza. Although they are seen as underdogs, they have recently secured wins against the Netherlands and Bolivia.    

👉   Serie A players called up for  🇦🇷    the Argentina National team:

• Inter forward Lautaro Martínez, played until the 55th minute and was replaced by Nico González.
• Como forward Nico Paz, listed as a substitute.

👉   Serie A players called up for   🇩🇿    the Algeria National team:

• Hellas Verona defender Rafik Belghali, played the entire game.
• Frosinone forward Farès Ghedjemis, listed as a substitute.

👉   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 1 - 0 Algeria 🇩🇿

⚽️ In the 17th minute,  Lionel Messi scores! Rodrigo De Paul passes to the number 10, who accelerates centrally and unleashes a stunning left-footed shot from the edge of the box into the top corner. The Algerian defense was caught napping during an Argentina free-kick in the center circle, which De Paul played through the lines into a space. Messi controlled the ball onto his left foot and fired a powerful shot into the far corner, leaving goalkeeper Luca Zidane with no chance!

Lionel Messi puts Argentina ahead with the opening goal!!!

   

The incredible partnership of Rodrigo de Paul and Lionel Messi is creating magic for Argentina! Go, boys!

   

🏆👉   🇦🇷  Argentina 2 - 0 Algeria   🇩🇿

⚽️ In the 60th minute, Lionel Messi scores again. It's a brace for him! Mac Allister takes a shot from outside the box, but goalkeeper Zidane makes a terrible save. Messi arrives just in time, using his right foot to easily slot in the second goal.

That's 15 goals from Messi in World Cup history. With this opportunistic finish, Messi moves up to second place on the all-time World Cup goal scorer list.

   

🏆👉  🇦🇷  Argentina 3 - 0 Algeria  🇩🇿

⚽️    In the 76th minute, Lionel Messi scores again! That's a hat-trick for him. What a fantastic restart for Argentina, with the ball moving to the right for Nico Gonzalez, then to the edge for the number 10, who sets it up with his left foot. The Argentina captain skillfully dribbles into Algeria’s half through the center circle before passing the ball to the left for Gonzalez. After a quick touch, the substitute sends it back to Messi, who positions himself perfectly, placing it on his left foot before curling a shot that leaves goalkeeper Zidane with no chance! What a GREAT GAME, and the crowd is roaring for Messi!

   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         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 ⚽️ Goals:  17' Lionel Messi (Ar) 🟨 Yellow Cards: ✅ Official lineups - Tabellino: 🇦🇷     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)