Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick as Argentina beat Algeria 3–0 on Wednesday, 17 June 2026, in their World Cup Group Stage opener on Matchday 1. Messi opened the scoring in the 17th minute, finishing an assist from Rodrigo De Paul. He doubled the lead in the 60th minute with an unassisted strike, then completed his treble in the 76th minute from a Nicolas Gonzalez assist. Szymon Marciniak of Poland was the referee, and the score was 1–0 at ha...

The 2026 World Cup begins its group stage on Wednesday, 17 June 2026, with Argentina and Algeria meeting for the first time in a competitive fixture on football's biggest stage. This is a Group Stage - 1 match on Matchday 1, not a knockout tie, meaning neither side faces elimination on the night. Both teams are competing for points that will determine their path out of the group and into the knockout rounds. Argentina, the reigning world champions, enter the tournament as one of the favourites, ...