Argentina supporters gather at Mill Creek Park on Jun 15, 2026, in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo: Getty Images via AFP)
16 Jun 2026 03:25PM
LOS ANGELES: Lionel Messi's Argentina and Kylian Mbappe's France, the two teams that contested a thrilling World Cup final four years ago, roar into the 2026 tournament on Tuesday (Jun 16).Argentina, who won that thrilling contest in Doha in a penalty shootout after it finished 3-3 following extra time, take on Algeria in Kansas City.Messi is set to play in a sixth World Cup, and Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said the 38-year-old linchpin of his team "looks good" despite suffering a hamstring injury playing for club side Inter Miami in late May.
Argentina supporters tie a flag showing Lionel Messi to a tree as supporters gather at Mill Creek Park on Jun 15, 2026, in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo: Getty Images via AFP)
"Everyone wants to see him out on the pitch, not just Argentinians, because of the impact he has on people," Scaloni said at his pre-match press conference.
