Messi's Argentina Faces Tough Opener Against Algeria in Expanded 48-Team FIFA World Cup

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The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to kick off on June 11 in Mexico with an expanded 48-team format, featuring Lionel Messi's Argentina in Group J alongside Austria, Algeria, and debutants Jordan. The defending champions will face Algeria in their opening match, a repeat of their 2014 World Cup group stage encounter. Messi, who will be 39 years old during the tournament, will be one of the oldest players in the competition, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, who will be 41 years and four months old. The tournament will also see the return of five-time champions Brazil, who will face Morocco in their opening match in Group C. Brazil's appearance in the finals marks the first time this century that Scotland, who are also in the group, have qualified for the tournament. England, who will open against Croatia in a repeat of the 2018 semi-final, and France-Senegal and Netherlands-Japan are among the other highly anticipated opening matches. FIFA president Gianni Infantino hailed the tournament as the 'greatest FIFA World Cup ever,' citing the increased number of matches and the top four teams in the FIFA rankings being placed in opposite halves to prevent early clashes. The draw was attended by heads of state from the three host countries, as well as football and sports icons, including Roberto Carlos, Kaka, and Shaquille O'Neil. The tournament will see the introduction of a new FIFA Peace Prize, awarded to US President Donald Trump, recognizing his efforts to unite people and bring hope for future generations. The business of the draw began with Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni carrying the World Cup to the stage, and the 48 qualified teams were split into 12 groups, with the top two teams in each group advancing to the 32-team knockout rounds.