There are moments in sport where the question is not "will they win?" but "how will they do it?" Argentina's Group D opener against Algeria at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City is one of those occasions. The world champions, still led by Lionel Messi at 38, face a Fennec Foxes side that has never beaten a South American team at a World Cup. The numbers, the history, the ranking gap — all of it points in one direction. But Algeria are not coming to make up the numbers, and the conditions, the altitude and the heat in Kansas City will not care who won the last World Cup.
Messi at 38: Why This World Cup Is Different
This is almost certainly Messi's final World Cup. He said as much in the months leading up to the tournament, and at Inter Miami he has been in good physical shape — sharp, economical, demanding the ball in the pockets of space he has always found so effortlessly. What has changed is his role. He no longer covers every blade of grass. He conserves himself for the moments that matter and produces them more reliably than any player in the history of the game. If Algeria sit deep and invite Argentina to play in front of them, Messi will find the gaps. He always does. The question is whether Algeria are brave enough to press high or disciplined enough to defend deep — because both approaches have their own dangers against this team.
Algeria's Threat Is Real If Underestimated
Algeria qualified with the best defensive record in African qualifying. They have pace in transition through Riyad Mahrez, still sharp at 33 for Manchester City, and physical presence through Islam Slimani. If Argentina switch off at any point — and the defending champions have been known to drop their intensity in group openers — Algeria have the quality to punish it on the break. The 2022 world champions started that tournament slowly before finding their rhythm. It would be naive to assume the same rhythm comes automatically this time.
Argentina Should Win — But Algeria Won't Lie Down
Argentina are among the three or four teams who could realistically win this tournament. Algeria, realistically, are not. But this World Cup has already served up one major shock (Spain 0-0 Cape Verde), and if Algeria sit disciplined and hit Argentina on the counter with Mahrez pulling the strings, a draw is not completely out of the question. Expect Argentina to win 2-1, with Messi involved in both goals — either scoring or setting up — and at least one moment that shows exactly why, at 38, he remains the best player in the world.
Preview facts: Argentina vs Algeria | 2026 FIFA World Cup Group D | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, USA | 16 June 2026. Argentina world ranking: 1st. Algeria world ranking: 31st. Argentina: reigning world champions (2022).
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