GOOAAAALLLLL! This time, there can't be an offside as Lionel Messi scores an absolute screamer from outside the box to open the scoring, A brilliant, brilliant hit from the GOAT to give Argentina a 1-0 lead. 

Algeria surprisingly enjoying plenty of possession against the World No. 1 Argentina. The possession, however, doesn't quite produce an opportunity as Argentina win back possession and the ball is immideately passed to Messi. It's Argentina who have control now as Algerian players fall back to defend deep. 

14' Argentina right-back Gonzalo Montiel commits an ugly tackle on his opponent, but the referee gives him the benefit of the doubt this time. No booking for Montiel but Algeria continue to threaten from the left flank through Maza and Chaibi. 

9' GOOAAAALLLLL! Who saw that coming? Absolute drama in Kansas as it's Algeria who open the scoring against the reigning champions. Fares Chaibi had the ball in the back of the net as celebrations begin! But, VAR intervenes and this is deemed another OFFSIDE call. What is happening here?

6' Lionel Messi almost lifts the entire stadium with an early goal after an excellent passing move in and around the Algeria penalty box. Messi has the ball in the back of the net but the linesman says he was offside. Messi disagrees but it stays 0-0.

4' Lionel Messi's strike partner Lautaro Martinez, with the first sniff at goal in the match, he heads the ball towards the goal, but it lands straight into the hands of the goalkeeper. The linesman than raises his flag, OFFSIDE!

1' Enzo Fernandez, Argentina's midfield destructor in action right from the start as he dispossesses his opponent of the ball, but ends up committing a foul. It's a free-kick for Algeria in the middle of the pitch. 

National anthems of Argentina and Algeria are over, and the two sets of players have arrived on the pitch. Messi, other than representing Argentina in the World Cups for the 6th time, is also making his 200th appearance for the national team today!

Tied with Diego Maradona in the list of most assists in FIFA World Cup history, with 8, Messi has the chance to go past the all-time great today. He will also have his eyes on Miroslav Klose's record of most goals in the tournaement's history. 

It's the pairing of Lionel Messi and Lautaro Martinez that starts in the 4-4-2 formation for Argentina against Algeria, while Julian Alvarez, the man under intense transfer speculation this summer, is on the bench. Fair call?

Today's FIFA World Cup 2026 match between Argentina and Algeria also presents the second-ever meeting between the nations, with Argentina claiming a 4-2 victory in an international friendly in 2007 in their only previous encounter. The 19-year-old game at the Camp Nou in Barcelona is also widely remembered as it was the first time when Messi scored his international double. 

“Not only the Argentinian population but everybody — the whole planet — wants to see him play,” Lionel Scaloni explained. “Everybody wants to see him on the pitch, because he has an effect not only on Argentina fans but supporters all over the world.”

Lionel Scaloni tends to be pensive about a lot of things, but especially when the subject turns to another Lionel — a much more famous one, arguably the most famous athlete in the world, and one the Argentina coach gets to see on a daily basis. 

Oh!! A very strange call has been taken by Algeria ahead of their FIFA World Cup opener against Argentina. Riyad Mahrez has not been picked in Algeria's starting lineup for their World Cup opener, which comes as a surprise because he is the team captain and one of Africa's top players. 

Erling Haaland scored his first two World Cup goals, including one off a defensive blunder, and added an assist in his tournament debut Tuesday to propel Norway to a 4-1 victory over Iraq in Group I. It was the 56th and 57th international goals for the Manchester City striker and came in Norway’s first appearance in the tournament since reaching the round of 16 at the 1998 World Cup in France — two years before Haaland was born.

Thousands of Argentine fans have taken over Kansas City ahead of their World Cup opener against Algeria. pic.twitter.com/sjs0Pp7fey

— MC (@CrewsMat10) June 16, 2026

Argelinos e Argentinos saindo na porrada no meio da Time Square

ISSO É COPA DO MUNDO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/tDFTTexDiX

— Central do Braga (@CentralDoBrega) June 16, 2026

With an appearance in the Starting XI today, Lionel Messi is set to become the first man to play in six World Cups. Apart from this, the first game against Alegria also marks his 200th cap for Argentina. Surely a memorable game for him and all his fans around the world. 

The world champions Argentina are currently at the summit of the FIFA rankings. Here are the Top 10 rankings:

1. Argentina
2. Spain
3. France
4. England
5. Portugal
6. Brazil
7. Morocco
8. Netherlands
9. Belgium
10. Germany

ARGENTINA HAS ARRIVED 🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/n2aHXlSgki

— All About Argentina 🛎🇦🇷 (@AlbicelesteTalk) June 16, 2026

Argentina: E. Martinez; Montiel, Romero, Lisandro Martinez, Medina; Fernandez, De Paul, Mac Allister; Messi, Lautaro Martinez, Almada.

Algeria: Zidane; Belghali, Mandi, Bensebaini, Ait-Nouri; Bentaleb, Boudaoui; Hadj Moussa, Chaibi, Gouiri; Maza.

Lionel Messi is set to play in a sixth World Cup and Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said the 38-year-old linchpin of his team "looks good" despite suffering a hamstring injury playing for club side Inter Miami in late May.

"Everyone wants to see him out on the pitch, not just Argentines, because of the impact he has on people," Scaloni said at his pre-match press conference.

"He has always been crucial for us and now he will be even more so. He looks good."

It's just 5 AM in India but the football fans are already up to see the icon Lionel Messi take the centre stage at the FIFA World Cup 2026. The man, who guided Argentina to the FIFA title in 2022, is making his sixth World Cup appearance. Amid all his injury concerns, Messi will be in the spotlight today. 

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the FIFA World Cup 2026, Group J match between the defending champions Argentina and Algeria, straight from the Kansas Stadium. Stay tuned for all the live updates.