Alexis Mac Allister is the final Liverpool player to make his appearance at this summer’s World Cup. So far, every Red has picked up a point, whilst Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak came away with dominant wins.
The current World champions kick start their defence against Algeria, a side that failed to qualify for the last two competitions. However, when they last featured in Brazil they reached the knockout round, before losing to Germany.
The thoughts on a lot of Argentinians heading into this tournament surround their icon. At 38, this will likely be Lionel Messi’s final chapter on the grandest stage in football. They were lucky enough to see him lift the trophy once; now they want to see it for a second time. While for the Africans, it may be a goodbye for one of their greatest players ever in Riyad Mahrez, who is 35-years-old. Though, they have plenty of exciting youngsters making progress in Europe.
The 2025/26 campaign was one of the toughest challenges Mac Allister has ever faced. Many Kopites are angry with how he played, looking miles off from what he has shown in the past. Some believe this tournament delays his departure from Merseyside. Whatever happens, he will want to do his best for his country once again.
| Date | Match | Competition | Minutes | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 June, 2026 | Argentina vs Iceland | International friendly | 45 | W 3-0 |
| 7 June, 2026 | Argentina vs Honduras | International friendly | 28 | W 2-0 |
| 24 May, 2026 | Liverpool vs Brentford | Premier League | 90 | D 1-1 |
How to watch
- Date: Sunday, June 17, 2026
- Kickoff time: 8 pm local time (CT) / 2 am BST
- Location: Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City
- TV/Streaming: Zee5, Fox (US), ITV (UK)
Recent form guide
Argentina: They have been on a roll, all things considered, since their World Cup victory. Since 2025, they have lost just once, in a 1-0 defeat to Ecuador in September 2025. That match also saw them go down to 10 men in the first half, when Nicolas Otamendi was sent off. Their last three fixtures have seen them score 10 goals without conceding once.
Algeria: Earlier this year, they reached the quarterfinals of the African Cup of Nations, where they lost 2-0 to Nigeria. Outside of that, they have been a solid team who concede very few goals. In their warm-up to the World Cup, they hadn’t conceded in their last four outings, which included a 1-0 win over the Netherlands.
| Team | Recent form | Key warm up results |
|---|---|---|
| Argentina | W W W W W | 5-0 Zambia, 3-0 Iceland |
| Algeria | W W D W L | 1-0 Netherlands, 4-0 Bolivia |
Injuries, absences, suspension
Messi has been a slight concern heading into the tournament. In the weeks prior, he had a suspected hamstring injury. However, it seems like he will start the first game of their World Cup defence. It looks like both sides will be at full strength in Kansas City.
Argentina
- None
Algeria
- None
Predicted starting lineup
In Argentina’s recent meeting against Iceland, they utilised a 4-4-2. With Julian Alvarez being a strong force, he will likely lead the line with Messi. Mac Allister seems like he will be key to another World Cup campaign, sitting in the middle with Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandes.
As for Algeria, they have often gone with a 4-3-3, getting the most of their quality out wide. Former World Cup winner, Zinedine Zidane’s son, Luca, will be in between the sticks. The experience of Nabil Bentaleb may also be required.
Argentina predicted XI (4-4-2)
Martinez; Molina, Romero, L Martinez, Medina; De Paul, Fernandez, Mac Allister, Almada; Alvarez, Messi
Algeria predicted XI (4-3-3)
Zidane; Belghali, Mandi, Bensebaini, Ait-Nouri; Chabibi, Bentaleb, Tougai; Mahrez, Benbouali, Amoura
ReadLiverpool verdict
Argentina will hope they can start their defence in the best way. However, if there is one thing this tournament has told is, it’s about the underdogs. Cape Verde’s draw with Spain is one of the greatest results of the tournament so far.
They lost to Saudi Arabia in the first game in Qatar, so they will need to be prepared. Mac Allister hasn’t enjoyed an amazing season for Liverpool. It’s time to put it right on an international stage.
