Heavyweights Argentina and France start World Cup quests

Lionel Messi’s Argentina and Kylian Mbappe’s France, the two teams who contested a thrilling World Cup final four years ago, roar into the 2026 tournament on Tuesday.

Argentina, who won that dramatic 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.

“Everyone wants to see him out on the pitch, not just Argentines, because of the impact he has on people,” Scaloni said at his pre-match press conference.

“He has always been crucial for us and now he will be even more so. He looks good.”

Messi proved his fitness by coming on as a substitute and scoring in a warm-up against Iceland last week.