Argentina defeats Algeria 3-0 in 2026 World Cup opener

On June 17, 2026, Argentina secured a 3-0 victory against Algeria in their opening match of the FIFA World Cup held at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas. Lionel Messi scored a hat trick, finding the net in the 17th, 60th, and 76th minutes. With these goals, Messi reached 16 total career World Cup goals, tying Miroslav Klose's all-time record, and marked his 200th international appearance. This tournament also represents his sixth World Cup participation. Algerian officials and fans expressed grievances regarding the officiating, specifically requesting a red card for Messi following a physical challenge on Manti that went unpunished by referee Szymon Marciniak. Argentina is scheduled to play Austria on June 22, while Algeria faces Jordan on June 23.