Messi and Argentina begin their World Cup defence against Algeria

The defence of the World Cup begins for Argentina in the small hours of Wednesday morning in India, when Lionel Scaloni’s champions open their Group J campaign against Algeria at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. The match gets under way at 6:30am IST, the first sight of the holders since they lifted the trophy in 2022.

Messi leads one more campaign

This is a sixth World Cup for Lionel Messi, a record in itself, and almost certainly his last. The captain turns 39 during the tournament and was eased through the warm-up schedule, coming off the bench in the final tune-up before the squad flew out. Scaloni has spent the build-up insisting Messi is fit and ready, and the expectation is that he starts in Kansas City rather than being held back.

Around him sits the spine that won in Qatar. Emiliano Martinez remains the first-choice goalkeeper, Cristian Romero and Nicolas Otamendi anchor the defence, and the midfield engine of Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister and Enzo Fernandez is intact. Lautaro Martinez is set to lead the line after a season in which he finished as Serie A’s leading scorer, giving Argentina a focal point while Messi drifts into the spaces behind him.

Algeria return after a long wait

For Algeria this is a first World Cup appearance since 2014, and the man charged with making it count is Vladimir Petkovic, in the job since early 2024. He guided the Fennec Foxes through African qualifying as group winners, and his squad blends experience with youth. Riyad Mahrez, now 35 and playing in what he has said will be his last World Cup, captains the side and remains the player Algeria look to when they need a moment of quality.

There is intrigue elsewhere in the squad too. Luca Zidane, son of Zinedine, is in goal, while Bayer Leverkusen’s Ibrahim Maza represents the next generation. Petkovic left out the experienced midfielder Ismael Bennacer in a selection that raised eyebrows, a sign the coach is backing his own ideas rather than reputations. Algeria warmed up by beating the Netherlands, a result that will give them belief they can trouble anyone.

A group with room for surprises

Group J also contains Austria and the debutants Jordan, and while Argentina start as heavy favourites to top it, Scaloni has refused to talk up his side’s chances. He has repeatedly said there is no easy opponent at a World Cup, and an Algeria side that can sit deep and break on the counter through Mahrez is exactly the kind of opener that can frustrate a fancied team. The champions will want a fast start to settle any nerves; Algeria will be happy to make them wait.

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