Heavyweights Argentina and France start World Cup quests

The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off Tuesday with two titans, Lionel Messi's Argentina and Kylian Mbappé's France, beginning their quests for glory. These two powerhouses met in a thrilling final four years ago, which Argentina won on penalties after a 3-3 draw through extra time.

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Everyone wants to see him out on the pitch, not just Argentinians, because of the impact he has on people. He has always been crucial for us, and now he will be even more so. He looks good.

Argentina opens its campaign against Algeria in Kansas City. Coach Lionel Scaloni expressed confidence in the 38-year-old Messi's fitness, stating he "looks good" despite a recent hamstring issue. Messi, set to participate in his sixth World Cup, has proven his readiness by scoring in a recent warm-up against Iceland. Teammate Nicolas Otamendi described Messi as a "competitive animal" who motivates the team.

France, boasting a potent attack including Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, and Michael Olise, faces Senegal in New Jersey. Coach Didier Deschamps emphasized the importance of a strong start, acknowledging that while the first match isn't decisive, avoiding the opening-day defeat they suffered against Senegal in the 2002 World Cup is crucial. That loss contributed to their group-stage exit as reigning champions.

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He's a competitive animal. He makes you keep trying, he doesn't let you relax.

Deschamps also noted the intangible emotional aspect of the game, warning that the atmosphere could cause some players to tense up. France has a formidable World Cup record, reaching the final in four of the last seven tournaments, with two wins and two losses on penalties.

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The first match is very important, but it's not decisive. Starting with a win in a four-team group is ideal and always the objective.

In other news, Erling Haaland is set to make his World Cup finals debut for Norway against Iraq, marking the country's first appearance since 1998. Haaland recently secured his third Premier League top scorer award.

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But the one thing we can't measure or quantify is the emotional aspect. Some players might tense up with the atmosphere around the match.