World Cup · Group Stage - 1
Argentina
AlgeriaWed, 17 Jun 2026 · 01:00 · Arrowhead Stadium
At a glance
Argentina form
Algeria form
Injuries
Outcome Probabilities
Market Edge
Match Result
Market: 69% implied · Sharp consensus (Pinnacle, Bet365, Betfair) · Snapshot 4h ago · Not real-time
AI Analysis
This is a World Cup 2026 Group Stage opener played at a fully neutral venue — Arrowhead Stadium — with no host nation advantage in play. Both teams are on equal footing from a venue standpoint.
SPORTING OUTLOOK
Argentina enter as the world's top-ranked side, carrying a points gap of over 300 above Algeria in the FIFA rankings. That is a decisive class difference by any reasonable measure, and the data broadly supports a comfortable Argentine victory.
Argentina's pre-tournament form shows three wins in their last five, including a 3-0 defeat of Iceland and a 2-0 win over Honduras in the week before the tournament. The draw against Qatar is the only blemish, and that came away from home. Their attacking depth is well-documented in qualification, where Messi, Julián Álvarez, and Lautaro Martínez all contributed goals. The squad is settled and firing.
Algeria's recent form is more interesting than their ranking suggests. The standout result is a 1-0 win away to the Netherlands — ranked eighth in the world — just two weeks before this fixture. They also drew 0-0 with Uruguay at home, another top-20 side. Those results show defensive organisation and the ability to absorb pressure, with Algeria recording just two shots on target against the Netherlands and zero against Uruguay while holding clean sheets. Mohamed Amoura was the standout scorer in qualification with ten goals, and Riyad Mahrez contributed four assists. Algeria can be dangerous on the counter.
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