Argentina, the reigning World Cup champions, began their tournament campaign against Algeria. This match marks Algeria’s return to the World Cup after a hiatus since 2014. Lionel Messi started for Argentina in this highly anticipated group stage clash. Riyad Mahrez was notably on the bench for Algeria. The game represents a significant encounter between two national teams with differing recent World Cup experiences. Expectations are high for Argentina as they aim to defend their title, while Algeria seeks to make a strong impression after their long absence from the competition. This match is considered a key fixture in the early stages of the tournament.