Will Thiago Almada start tonight for Argentina vs Algeria in FIFA World Cup 2026?
(Courtesy : Getty)
The two teams will face off in their World Cup opener tonight.
Argentina are set to face Algeria in their FIFA World Cup 2026 opener at Kansas City Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. The two sides are drawn in Group J of the 48-team expanded tournament alongside Austria and Jordan.
Lionel Messi will play in his sixth World Cup, hoping to make Argentina only the third nation in the competition’s history to win back-to-back titles, after Brazil and Italy. The Argentine playmaker has played 26 games in the FIFA World Cup, the most by any player.
In those appearances, he has scored 13 goals. He needs only four more goals to beat Miroslav Klose’s all-time record of 16 goals.
Regarding team news, the entire Argentine squad is ready for the clash; however, Nicolás Tagliafico will miss the game due to an injury.
However, apart from the experienced players, Thiago Almada has also become very famous, courtesy of his recent performance. Thus, fans are wondering whether the 25-year-old will start against Algeria.
Also Read: FIFA World Cup 2026 Full Fixtures, Schedule, Results, Match Timings & Where to Watch
Will Thiago Almada start for Argentina vs Algeria?
Thiago Almada will start for Argentina tonight against Algeria, reports suggest. The 25-year-old enjoyed a successful season with LaLiga side Atletico Madrid, making 40 appearances across all competitions and scoring 4 goals and providing 2 assists.
The 25-year-old is solidifying his status as one of the most versatile football players in the world. Just playing for Atlético Madrid last season, he featured as a left winger, an attacking midfielder, a right winger, a second striker, a centre forward, and a central midfielder.
However, he still got fewer minutes in the UEFA Champions League and LaLiga. He started 16 games in Spanish top-tier football but played only 172 minutes across seven appearances in the UCL. Nevertheless, Thiago Almada gave promising performances throughout the campaign.
Almada has earned 15 international caps for Argentina and has scored five goals. He also scored against Iceland in Argentina’s last pre-World Cup friendly, helping the defending champions secure a 3-0 victory.
When and where is Argentina vs Algeria FIFA World Cup 2026 match?
The Group J match will be played at the Kansas City Stadium in Missouri on Tuesday, June 16. In India, the match will kick off at 6:30 AM IST on June 17.
In which group are Argentina and Algeria drawn?
Both sides are drawn in Group J alongside Austria and Jordan.
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