Defending champions Argentina will launch their bid for consecutive FIFA World Cup titles on Tuesday when Lionel Scaloni’s side faces Algeria in the opening match of Group J in Kansas City, with Lionel Messi preparing to make history in his sixth World Cup appearance.
Fresh off returning to the top of the FIFA rankings for the first time since July 2025, Argentina enter the tournament as one of the favorites to retain the trophy they lifted in Qatar four years ago. Yet history offers a cautionary note. No team ranked No. 1 in the world at the start of a men’s World Cup has gone on to win the title.
Despite that statistic, confidence remains high within the Argentine camp. The core of the squad that triumphed in Qatar has remained intact, giving Scaloni one of the tournament’s most experienced lineups as he attempts to guide Argentina to back-to-back World Cup crowns. The last nation to accomplish that feat was Brazil in 1962.
The spotlight will once again fall on Messi, whose record-breaking sixth World Cup appearance further cements his place among football’s all-time greats. At 38, the captain continues to lead Argentina with the same determination that inspired their title-winning campaign four years ago.
“I’m happy, savouring every moment and excited as ever,” Messi said last week as preparations for the tournament entered their final stage.
Scaloni’s biggest concern ahead of the opener has been the fitness of left back Nicolas Tagliafico. The defender suffered a muscle injury during Argentina’s 2-0 victory over Honduras on June 6, forcing Facundo Medina to fill the role during last week’s comfortable 3-0 win over Iceland.
Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, meanwhile, has recovered from the finger fracture he sustained while preparing for Aston Villa’s UEFA Europa League final victory and is expected to reclaim his place between the posts.
Should Tagliafico be declared fit, Argentina are likely to field a starting lineup consisting entirely of players from the squad that captured the 2022 World Cup, underlining Scaloni’s faith in continuity and tournament experience.
Even so, Argentina know better than most that reputations offer no guarantees on football’s biggest stage. Their shocking defeat to Saudi Arabia in their opening match in Qatar remains one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history, although they recovered magnificently to win the tournament.
Algeria arrive hoping to produce a similar surprise.
The North African side enters the competition unbeaten in its last four matches, including an impressive draw against two-time world champions Uruguay and a 1-0 victory over the Netherlands. Those performances have strengthened belief that Vladimir Petkovic’s squad can compete with the world’s elite, prompting the Algerian Football Federation to extend the coach’s contract through 2028.
Attacking confidence has also grown following a 4-0 friendly victory over Bolivia, with forwards Anis Hadj Moussa and Amine Gouiri combining for four goals across Algeria’s last two matches.
Another player attracting considerable attention is 20-year-old attacking midfielder Ibrahim Maza. Nicknamed “Mazadona” at Bayer Leverkusen because of his creativity and technical ability, Maza has embraced the challenge awaiting his team.
The youngster confidently declared that Algeria is capable of defeating Messi and Argentina, reflecting the growing belief inside a squad seeking to advance from a group that also includes Austria and Jordan.
For Algeria, even a competitive performance against the defending champions could provide valuable momentum before decisive matches later in the group stage.
Argentina, however, arrive in outstanding form. Since suffering a defeat to Ecuador in September 2025, Scaloni’s side has won seven consecutive matches and appears determined to begin its title defense with another convincing performance.
“Opponents will find it very hard to face Argentina, because this is a very strong, very united group,” Messi said.
That unity, combined with the experience of a squad that has already conquered the world’s biggest tournament, gives Argentina confidence as it begins another quest for football’s most prestigious prize. Whether Algeria can spoil the champions’ opening night will be one of the first major storylines of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
