Heavyweights Argentina, France start World Cup quests

Lionel Messi's Argentina and Kylian Mbappe's France, the two teams that contested a thrilling World Cup final four years ago, are set to begin their 2026 tournament quests on Tuesday.

“

Everyone wants to see him out on the pitch, not just Argentines, 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, the victors of the dramatic 2022 final in Doha, will face Algeria in Kansas City. Lionel Messi, playing in his sixth World Cup, appears fit despite a recent hamstring injury. Coach Lionel Scaloni noted that Messi "looks good" and remains "crucial" for the team, emphasizing his significant impact on people. Messi proved his fitness by scoring as a substitute in a recent warm-up match against Iceland.

France, featuring a potent attack including Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, and Michael Olise, opens its campaign against Senegal in New Jersey. The French team aims to avoid a repeat of their opening-day defeat to Senegal in the 2002 World Cup, which led to their early exit. Coach Didier Deschamps stressed the importance of a strong start, stating that while the first match isn't decisive, a win is always the objective. He also cautioned about the emotional aspect of the game and potential player tension.

“

He’s a competitive animal. He forces you to keep trying, he doesn’t let you relax.

Meanwhile, Erling Haaland is set to make his World Cup finals debut for Norway against Iraq. Norway qualified for the tournament for the first time since 1998. Haaland, who recently finished as the Premier League's top scorer for the third time in four seasons with Manchester City, boasts an impressive record of 55 goals in 50 caps for his country. Norway coach Stale Solbakken expressed hope that Haaland will have a "very big impact."

“

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.

Iraq's coach, Graham Arnold, believes his team can cause an upset, stating, "We’ve got to perform to our best and try to shock the world."

“

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.