In the inaugural match of the 2026 World Cup, France overcame a lackluster first half to secure a convincing 3-1 victory over Senegal. Despite not performing at their peak for significant stretches, the skills of Olise, Mbappé, Doue, and Barcola proved too much for their opponents.
Kylian Mbappé has now netted 14 goals across 15 World Cup appearances, putting him level with Gerd Muller on the all-time list, trailing only Ronaldo and Miroslav Klose. He is poised to leave North America as the most prolific scorer in World Cup history.
Max and the team celebrated Cape Verde on the latest episode of the World Cup Daily podcast.
In other news, international coaching star Hervé Renard will indeed take the helm after all. Renard, known for his tailored white dress shirt, initially qualified Saudi Arabia for the tournament but lost his position just before it began. He has now stepped in to replace Sabri Lamouchi at Tunisia following the latter’s dismissal after a disappointing opening loss to Sweden.
Michael Butler has put together the latest Football Daily roundup, featuring insights on Pico Lopes, Marcelo Bielsa, and the late Roy Hattersley.
As we approach the third fixture of matchday six, let’s delve into the thoughts of David Squires.
Hello everyone, and welcome to live coverage of match 19 in the 2026 World Cup as Argentina takes on Algeria. Kick-off for this Group J encounter at Kansas City Stadium is set for 8 PM local time (9 PM EDT/2 AM BST/11 AM AEST).
The arrival of the defending champions always injects a sense of excitement into the tournament, and today is no different as Argentina begins its campaign. This also marks the return of Lionel Messi, whose stature in this region has grown immensely since his transition to MLS.
The 2022 World Cup was a crowning achievement for Messi, solidifying his place among football’s all-time greats. Although he has a chance to add a second title to his accolades in North America, the task is more daunting this time, as he and his team grapple with the relentless passage of time.
Algeria presents a formidable challenge for a veteran team defending its title. Ranked 28th globally, they are led by the astute Vladimir Petkovic and captained by the experienced Riyad Mahrez. They prepared for the World Cup with a victory over the Netherlands in Rotterdam and a resounding 4-0 win against Bolivia, Argentina’s northern neighbors.
I will return shortly with team updates and a recap of the matchday action thus far. Meanwhile, keep an eye on the game between Iraq and Norway, and feel free to share your thoughts about the tournament at jonathan.howcroft.freelance@.
