Argentina defeated Algeria 3-0 in their opening match of the 2026 World Cup, held Wednesday in Kansas City. Lionel Messi scored all three goals, securing a hat trick and equaling Miroslav Klose’s record of 16 goals in World Cup history. The Algerian team, under coach Vladimir Petkovic, struggled to counter Argentina’s attack. This marks Algeria’s return to the World Cup after a period of absence. The match took place during the first round of Group J competition. Messi’s performance was a key factor in Argentina’s dominant victory, setting a strong start for their campaign.