00:00It is among the most sought-after tickets in the group stage, the beginning of Group J.
00:05Argentina's title defense begins. Algeria returned to the World Cup for the first time
00:10in a dozen years. The sun setting on the sixth day, this Continental 2026 FIFA World Cup,
00:17and the world turns its eyes to the USA's soccer capital, the heartland,
00:22on this temperate evening in Kansas City.
00:27Built in 1972, Kansas City Stadium should play host to about 76,000 on this day,
00:35a city defined by soccer for the better part of half a century,
00:40home to sporting Kansas City and Major League Soccer,
00:43Kansas City current of the National Women's Soccer League.
00:46The FIFA World Cup comes to Kansas City for the first time.
00:53A very pleasant good evening with Courtney Sweetman, Kirk, Mike Watts on hand.
00:58You and I have been now in Kansas City for the better part of three, four days.
01:02This is fever pitch that we're experiencing now, but it's built toward this.
01:06The atmosphere should be brilliant.
01:07Yeah, it should be absolutely fantastic.
01:09And I think even coming to the game today, three, sort of, three, four hours before kickoff,
01:14the atmosphere was already building.
01:15And as you say, even in the few days before that we've been around in Kansas,
01:19seeing a lot of Argentina shirts, I must admit, not so many of the Algeria ones,
01:24but they've turned out in their numbers today, and it's fantastic to see.
01:27Vladimir Pekovic, the head coach for Algeria,
01:29described maybe a 15% Algerian presence, the likes of Patrick Mahomes,
01:36the Kansas City Chiefs-famed quarterback in attendance.
01:39If there's a celebrity in America that loves the beautiful game,
01:42they're probably going to be in the venue tonight.
01:44And the reason is rather obvious.
01:46It's the reigning World Cup champion.
01:48It's maybe the greatest player of all time, 20 years on from his World Cup debut.
01:53Lionel Messi and Argentina lead this Group J alongside Algeria, Austria, and Jordan.
02:01Surely Argentina the favorite,
02:02but they've been very quick to say this match could cause a lot of trouble.
02:06Yeah, and they know because they've been there four years previous in Qatar
02:10when they lost to Saudi Arabia.
02:11So they know that absolutely nothing is a given coming into this game.
02:15So they have to perform.
02:16And yes, they are the overwhelming favorites.
02:18There's no doubt about that.
02:19But Algeria are here not just to make up the numbers,
02:22but to try and cause an upset tonight.
02:24For so many years, Lionel Messi was at the fate of unmet expectation.
02:30Finally, he wins the World Cup trophy.
02:33Now there's expectations previously unmet for 62 years.
02:37How do they possibly go back-to-back?
02:39That journey, it starts tonight.
02:41Yeah, it's huge.
02:42I think only Italy and Brazil are the only other national sides to do that.
02:45So it's no mean feat.
02:46And whether it be in a World Cup or domestic competitions,
02:49every player knows that going back-to-back
02:51is one of the most difficult things to do.
02:54And for me, they've probably got a bit of an aging team.
02:58Not much has changed, which in one way is good.
03:00But maybe you could argue that the turnover,
03:02the young blood coming in hasn't quite been quick enough.
03:05But we'll see.
03:05And when you've got a player like Lionel Messi in your team,
03:09you've always got a chance because he can bring up some magic.
03:11But, you know, he's had a season that, you know, he's had some nigg.
03:14A familiar face, the referee from Poland, 45-year-old Simon Marciniak.
03:20His third World Cup, he oversaw Argentina's triumph in La Salle against France.
03:25Argentina's round of 16 fixture against Australia
03:28in a group stage match in Moscow against Iceland in 2018.
03:33Tomasz Kwiatkowski, the VAR from Poland.
03:43An Argentina team defined by its experience, Courtney.
03:47Six of the 11 starting today started the final in 2022.
03:51Yeah, and I think for me, Enzo Fernández is going to be one of the most important players.
03:56Messi, he's a wonderful footballer still, but he is slowing down.
03:59Notaro gets the first touch for Argentina,
04:02and we're underway in Kansas City, Algeria, and Argentina.
04:10For the overlap, doesn't quite work.
04:14But you can see, in terms of that passage...
04:17The Messi!
04:21The flag is up, it's deemed offside.
04:25It was nearly a dream.
04:28That's a moment he'd like to forget.
04:32I think that...
04:34Argentina, right-hand side, the...
04:37Shady!
04:41Oh, what a start it is for Algeria!
04:45Forrest Shady opens the scoring in stunning fashion!
04:56They've totally turned the tables on the reigning champion!
05:00Algeria ahead in Kansas City!
05:03Sliced away before Messi could collect.
05:09The free kick to Algeria, painfully won.
05:15And wins the free kick off Montiel.
05:21Well, you were excited to see it, Norrie.
05:23Now I see why.
05:24Yeah, watched him many times in the Premier League.
05:27He scored in the pre-tournament friendly.
05:29The winner of his home stadium in the Netherlands.
05:35Lionel Messi!
05:41He transcends time!
05:44His 200th cap!
05:47His 6th World Cup!
05:48Another majestic moment for Lionel Messi!
06:02He makes football.
06:04On the playing forward.
06:10Messi only played...
06:14Well, Algeria felt like they'd go toe-to-toe with Argentina in the opening minutes.
06:20And it led to quite an entertaining start.
06:22Both sides, a goal ultimately deemed offside.
06:26In effect at the FIFA World Cup.
06:30Teams have found ways to try and alter momentum if you're Algeria.
06:36The pressure from Messi billowing forward.
06:45He looks in for their Mundu.
06:50Seem too much of a bad challenge.
06:52But I do think it's...
06:53There's no malice in it.
06:55Just on the...
06:55A foul from Gouiri.
06:57You mentioned his frustration.
06:58He's touched the ball the least of any player on the field.
07:01Just five touches.
07:03I think the problem for me is as well.
07:09Now, I would imagine so.
07:11I mean, everything that the doctors and the physios can do now in terms of the strap-ins,
07:17the injections and everything else, it shouldn't cause him too much pain.
07:21But the less he has to do, the better.
07:24That's always the case for...
07:26Messi!
07:30It's a cheeky one.
07:33Saw Zidane out of position.
07:35Messi.
07:36Return.
07:37Couldn't slip by.
07:38Mondi cleans it up.
07:40And the offside flag was raised.
07:42Never...
07:44Angled across.
07:45Martinez carting the post.
07:48Touches away the shady effort.
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09:18They do well Argentina here to win it back.
09:22Little back, Messi pursues, Pondi sweeps it clear, Martinez swiped by Zidane.
09:48Larry is suffering.
09:56Oh.
09:57That was.
10:00Brilliant intersection by Mondi, it really is.
10:04And you always run the danger in that position that you're going to turn it into your own
10:07net.
10:07But he knows it.
10:08Big deflection!
10:10And it happened!
10:11That's two for Messi!
10:16The second leading scorer in the history of the World Cup now!
10:21And Argentina's talisman delivers yet again!
10:29That was the right place at the right time.
10:32Can this be the moment?
10:34Zidane just enough to whisk away Messi's effort toward a hat-trick.
10:41Well, the whole stadium held his breath.
10:46Slides it centrally and this shot runs wide of Femi Martinez.
10:50That's as good a chance as Algeria's had in the half.
10:55Pauwar off the mark.
10:57Former French international back in 2020.
11:00A singular cap regretted that decision.
11:03Ultimately debuted in 2023 for Algeria as we reach the second half hydration break in Kansas City.
11:12Messi.
11:12Messi.
11:13Twice.
11:14Argentina two.
11:15Algeria nil.
11:22That was the moment, wasn't it, for Messi where everyone was on their feet.
11:27Everyone held their breath.
11:29Thinking that a little bit of history was going to be made tonight.
11:33But all credit to Zidane.
11:34He does well.
11:34He doesn't go down too quickly.
11:36He stays big for as long as he can.
11:37And a big hand to push it away from goal in the end.
11:44And the Paul.
11:50There we go.
11:52Speak as a man.
11:52Unsurprising spectator.
11:55Zinedine Zidane looks on.
11:57Luka.
11:58Messi!
12:02His first World Cup hat-trick!
12:05And it's a record-setter!
12:07Again!
12:09I don't know!
12:11Come and see!
12:13Go!
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