Zidane to attend Argentina's World Cup opener against Algeria

Zidane will be in the stands for Argentina–Algeria

Zinédine Zidane is set to attend Argentina's World Cup group stage match against Algeria on Wednesday. The French legend will be at the stadium as a spectator, and his son Luca is also expected to be present (1).

The two sides meet in Group D. For Argentina, it is the first step in defending the title won in 2022. Kickoff is Wednesday, June 17.

Legends speak: what Agüero, Tevez, and Gallardo are saying about Messi

Sergio Agüero, Carlos Tevez, and Marcelo Gallardo are among the former Argentina figures who have weighed in on Lionel Messi ahead of the World Cup opener (2). Ezequiel Lavezzi, Oscar Ruggeri, and Radamel Falcao also shared their views.

Messi, 38, is expected to play his final World Cup. The conversation around his legacy has intensified as the squad prepares to begin its title defense. Scaloni has built a team that no longer depends solely on its captain, but the emotional weight of this being Messi's last tournament is not lost on anyone.

Argentina–Algeria: your opening match, live

Argentina kicks off its 2026 World Cup campaign against Algeria. The match is being followed live across multiple outlets as the reigning champions begin the road to defending their title (3).

Scaloni's squad enters the tournament with a blend of experienced winners and young talent pushing for minutes. The post-Messi transition is quietly underway, but for now, the focus is on getting three points and setting the tone.

Fan reactions

Away from Argentina's opener, fans on Reddit noted a different piece of World Cup history: Germany has overtaken Brazil for the most goals ever scored at the World Cup, now sitting at 239 after their first match. Argentina remains third on the all-time list with 152 goals. See the discussion here.