2 hours ago
Key events
Preamble
Jonathan Howcroft
Hello everybody and invited to unrecorded sum of lucifer 19 of nan 2026 World Cup betwixt Argentina and Algeria. Kick-off successful this Group J conflict astatine Kansas City Stadium is 8pm section clip (9pm EDT/2am BST/11am AEST).
The presence of nan defending champions into a tourney ever adds a frisson of excitement to proceedings and that is nan lawsuit coming arsenic Argentina get their run underway. Of people nan beingness of la Albiceleste besides intends that of captain, Lionel Messi, who unsocial has nan heft of a participating federation successful these parts since his move to MLS.
2022 was Messi’s crowing glory, nan triumph that cemented his position among nan very top successful shot history. He is not without a chance of adding a 2nd winner’s badge to his postulation successful North America, but he faces a tougher task this clip astir arsenic he and his squad conflict nan unvanquishable opponent: time.
Algeria connection a stiff early trial of an ageing team’s title defence. Ranked 28th successful nan world they are coached by nan canny Vladimir Petkovic and captained by serial victor Riyad Mahrez. They warmed up for nan World Cup by beating nan Netherlands successful Rotterdam and thrashing Argentina’s bluish neighbours Bolivia 4-0.
I’ll beryllium backmost soon pinch squad news and a round-up of each nan matchday action truthful far. In nan meantime you tin support an oculus connected Iraq v Norway and email immoderate thoughts astir nan tourney truthful acold to [email protected].
