Argentina get started at the World Cup against Algeria: all the build-up | OneFootball

The Argentina National Team and Algeria will play this Tuesday starting at 10:00 p.m. at Kansas City Stadium as part of Matchday 1 of Group J of the 2026 World Cup. The team captained by Lionel Messi and coached by Lionel Scaloni gets underway in a new FIFA World Cup in search of back-to-back titles, after being crowned champions in Qatar four years ago. Check out the lineups, where to watch it live, and more.

Argentina lineup:

Emiliano Martínez; Gonzalo Montiel, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martínez, Facundo Medina; Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernández, Thiago Almada; Lionel Messi and Lautaro Martínez. Head coach: Lionel Scaloni.

Algeria lineup

Luca Zidane; Rafik Belghali, Aïssa Mandi, Ramy Bensebaini, Rayan Aït-Nouri; Farés Chaibi, Hicham Boudaoui, Nabil Bentaleb,Ibrahim Maza; Amine Gouiri and Anis Hadj Moussa. Head coach: Vladimir Petkovic.

Argentina National Team vs. Algeria, for the 2026 World Cup: follow it LIVE, minute by minute

9:30 p.m. – The Argentina National Team comes out to warm up

9:15 p.m. – To a standing ovation, Dibu Martínez came out to warm up

The goalkeeper who won the World Cup in Qatar 2022 has put the fracture in the ring finger of his right hand behind him and will start in Argentina’s opener.

9:08 p.m. – How has the Argentina National Team fared when debuting against African sides?

Tonight will be Argentina’s fifth World Cup opener against an African team. Here are the previous ones:

9:04 p.m. – Why isn’t Mahrez playing against Argentina?

Algeria’s star will be on the bench due to a tactical decision by coach Vladimir Petkovic.

8:51 p.m. – Without Mahrez, Algeria confirmed its lineup for the opener

Luca Zidane; Rafik Belghali, Aïssa Mandi, Ramy Bensebaini, Rayan Aït-Nouri; Farés Chaibi, Hicham Boudaoui, Nabil Bentaleb, Ibrahim Maza; Amine Gouiri and Anis Hadj Moussa. Head coach: Vladimir Petkovic.

Riyad Mahrez will be on the bench against Argentina. (Chris Ricco/Getty Images)

8:14 p.m. – Locker room ready in Kansas

Argentina will wear its traditional sky-blue and white shirt in the opener against Algeria.

This is how Argentina’s locker room looks ahead of the match against Algeria.

8:00 p.m. – Argentina heads to Kansas City Stadium

The Argentina squad has already left for the stadium where it will make its World Cup debut against Algeria starting at 10:00 p.m.

7:54 p.m. – Szymon Marciniak will become the referee who has officiated Argentina the most in World Cups

With tonight’s match between La Albiceleste and Algeria, the Polish referee will officiate our National Team for the fourth time.

Szymon Marciniak, the referee of the Qatar 2022 final, will officiate Argentina’s opener in the 2026 World Cup (Getty Images)

7:33 p.m. – The gates of Arrowhead Stadium are open

Two and a half hours before kickoff, the first fans are beginning to enter the stadium that will host Argentina’s opener.

The first fans to arrive at the Kansas stadium.

7:19 p.m. – Why will this be a special World Cup for Lautaro Martínez?

This tournament will be a special event for El Toro, who in 2022 ended up losing his place and failed to score despite La Albiceleste being crowned world champion. “Beyond the result, which collectively was magnificent, individually I didn’t arrive at the World Cup the way I wanted to, and today I did. That’s why I need to work and keep adding these minutes, which are always good,” the Bahía Blanca native told TyC Sports after the friendly against Honduras in which he scored a goal.

Due to Julián Álvarez’s issues with his left ankle, El Toro will start tonight. Will he be able to get rid of that thorn against Algeria?

The striker, the second-highest scorer for the Argentina national team in the Scaloni era, did not score in Qatar 2022 (Social media)

7:08 p.m. – Facundo Medina, the only World Cup debutant in Argentina’s starting XI

The Marseille player will be the left back in the National Team’s opener against Algeria starting at 10:00 p.m.

Facundo Medina will be the only defender making his World Cup debut.

6:56 p.m. – Di María’s moving message before the Argentina National Team’s opener: “We’re with you until the end”

Fideo, retired from the national team since winning the 2024 Copa América, dedicated some heartfelt words to his former teammates ahead of the opener against Algeria. “Now I know what it feels like to be just a fan,” he wrote.

Di María’s post on his Instagram account.

6:45 p.m. – Which Argentina players will wear special patches and what each one means

From Messi to Nico Paz, including Dibu Martínez, several La Albiceleste players are showing unique details on their sleeves: a collectible trend that FIFA embraced at this 2026 World Cup. More information.

The debutant patch will be worn by 10 Argentina players (Carmen Mandato – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

6:39 p.m. – Molina or Montiel, the only doubt in the Argentina National Team lineup

Scaloni already has 10 of the 11 names for the World Cup opener against Algeria.

Lionel Scaloni is deciding the Argentina National Team’s starting lineup against Algeria.

6:33 p.m. – Balerdi spoke about his injury after the Argentina National Team’s message hours before the World Cup opener

The center back, who was left out by Scaloni due to a tear in the soleus of his right leg, used his social media to speak out after the Albiceleste squad posed with a banner in support of him.

The photo of the Argentina National Team players in support of Leo Balerdi

6:29 p.m. – Argentina National Team fans traded punches with Algeria fans before the World Cup match

During Monday afternoon in Times Square, supporters identified with the sky-blue and white colors clashed with the Africans during a flag-waving gathering held in the heart of Manhattan.

6:25 p.m. – What time does the Argentina National Team vs. Algeria match start, for the 2026 World Cup

6:15 p.m. – This is how Kansas City Stadium looks for Argentina vs. Algeria

The pitch is in perfect condition hours before the Group J World Cup match kicks off.

This is how the Kansas City Stadium pitch looks.

Head-to-head record: Argentina vs. Algeria

Algeria’s current form

With Riyad Mahrez as their star player, the Desert Foxes will look to pull off an upset through quick transitions and the technical quality of their attackers, aspects they showed in the two friendlies beforehand against the Netherlands and Bolivia, which ended in 1-0 and 4-0 victories respectively.

Riyad Mahrez.

How the Argentina National Team arrives for its World Cup opener

In the friendlies, which served as a testing ground for the coach, La Albiceleste earned two wins: 2-0 against Honduras and a 3-0 rout over Iceland. The team’s performance improved steadily and ended up convincing in its outing against the European side.

Which stadium will host Argentina vs. Algeria

Argentina vs. Algeria will be played at Kansas City Stadium, where Argentina will be the home team.

Referee for Argentina vs. Algeria

For the match between Argentina vs. Algeria, the referee will be Szymon Marciniak.

10:00 p.m. – Time, TV for Argentina vs. Algeria

Time: 10:00 p.m.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.