Argentina began their campaign to defend their World Cup title on Tuesday with a match against Algeria, marking the start of the 2026 tournament for the reigning champions. Lionel Messi is leading the Argentinian team as they pursue an unprecedented back-to-back World Cup victory. The match represents Argentina’s first competitive fixture since winning the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. All eyes are on Messi to see how he performs as Argentina navigates the qualifying stages of the 2026 tournament. The game is being closely followed by fans worldwide eager to witness the team’s initial steps toward another championship. Algeria presents a challenging opening opponent for the South American champions.