The 2026 World Cup kicked off with France defeating Senegal 3-1, despite a lackluster first half. Les Bleus displayed moments of brilliance, with standout performances from Olise, Mbappé, Doue, and Barcola leading to their victory.
With 14 goals in 15 World Cup appearances, Mbappé has tied Gerd Müller on the all-time scoring list, trailing only behind Ronaldo and Miroslav Klose. He is on track to become the top goalscorer in finals history by the end of the tournament.
Max and the crew celebrated Cape Verde on the latest episode of the World Cup Daily podcast.
In other news, Hervé Renard, an esteemed international manager, will indeed participate in the tournament. Renard had qualified Saudi Arabia but lost his position just before the tournament began. Now, he will take over as Tunisia’s head coach, replacing Sabri Lamouchi after the latter was dismissed following a disappointing loss to Sweden.
The latest Football Daily roundup, curated by Michael Butler, includes insights on Pico Lopes, Marcelo Bielsa, and the late Roy Hattersley.
As we approach the third match of matchday six, let’s delve into the thoughts of David Squires.
Argentina’s World Cup Campaign Begins
Welcome to the live coverage of match 19 of the 2026 World Cup, where Argentina faces Algeria. The match at Kansas City Stadium is set to kick off at 8pm local time (9pm EDT/2am BST/11am AEST).
The defending champions, Argentina, bring an undeniable excitement to the tournament as they commence their title defense. This match also features their captain, Lionel Messi, who has gained significant attention since joining MLS.
Messi’s triumph in 2022 solidified his legacy as one of the greatest players in football history. Although he has a chance to secure a second World Cup medal in North America, he faces the relentless challenge of time.
Algeria’s Challenge
Algeria presents a formidable challenge for Argentina’s ageing squad. Ranked 28th globally, the team is led by the astute Vladimir Petkovic and features serial winner Riyad Mahrez as captain. They prepared for the World Cup with a victory against the Netherlands and a convincing 4-0 win over Bolivia.
Stay tuned for updates on team news and a recap of the action from matchday six. In the meantime, you can follow the match between Iraq and Norway and share your thoughts about the tournament at jonathan.howcroft.freelance@.
