Written by Megan Taylor, sports reporter covering international sports since 2020

Argentina vs Algeria World Cup action begins on Tuesday, June 16, when the defending champions face Algeria at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.

Argentina enter Group J as clear favourites, while Algeria return to the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 2014 and need points in a group that also includes Austria and Jordan.

The match follows another Group D talking point, Mike Grella vs Socceroos: USA Pundit Doubles Down Before World Cup Clash, as the tournament continues to move through its early fixtures. Fans can follow official tournament updates through the FIFA website.

Argentina Begin Title Defence

Argentina are making their 19th FIFA World Cup appearance and have qualified for every edition since 1974.

Led by Lionel Messi, the defending champions will expect to control long spells of possession against an Algeria side likely to protect space and choose counter-attacking moments carefully.

Argentina’s experience at this level gives them a clear edge, but early group matches often punish teams that start slowly.

For Lionel Messi’s team, a strong opening performance would immediately place pressure on the rest of Group J.

Algeria Return to the World Stage

Algeria, also known as The Greens and The Fennecs, are playing at the World Cup for the fifth time.

Their return matters because every point could be vital in the race with Austria for a likely qualification place behind Argentina.

The match kicks off at 9 p.m. ET on Tuesday, June 16, at Arrowhead Stadium.

For Australian viewers, the game starts at 11 a.m. AEST on Wednesday, June 17, with SBS showing all 104 tournament matches live and free across SBS, SBS Viceland and SBS On Demand.