Everything you need to know about Argentina vs Algeria in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including kick-off time, TV channel, live stream options, and team news.
Match details
The highly anticipated Group J opening fixture between Argentina and Algeria is scheduled to take place on Tuesday at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. Due to the time zone difference across the Atlantic, fans watching from the United Kingdom will have to brace themselves for a late-night viewing schedule.
UK and US kick-off times
The game will officially kick off for British audiences at 2am BST on the morning of Wednesday, June 17. For viewers in the United States, the match will kick off on Tuesday, June 16 at 9pm Eastern Time or 6pm Pacific Time.
UK TV channel and live stream
Television coverage in the United Kingdom will be provided free-to-air as part of a shared broadcasting agreement for the tournament. The live match will be broadcast nationwide on ITV1, while Scottish viewers can tune in via STV. For those who prefer to watch online or on mobile devices, supporters can stream the entire game live through ITVX or the STV Player, provided they hold a valid UK TV licence.
US TV channel and live stream
In the United States, English-language television rights are held exclusively by FOX, which will air the game live on its main network channel. Fans can also access the broadcast digitally via the FOX Sports app, the new FOX One platform, or stream it for free on Tubi. Extensive Spanish-language coverage is widely available across the United States for the Hispanic audience. The match will be televised live on Telemundo and Universo, with a simultaneous digital live stream accessible via Peacock.
Argentina team news
The main talking point surrounding the reigning world champions centres on the fitness of legendary captain Lionel Messi. The veteran forward has been managing a persistent hamstring issue but is expected to be available for manager Lionel Scaloni. Beyond Messi, Argentina boasts a fully loaded and highly settled squad ready to begin their title defence. Expect star figures like Lautaro Martínez, Julián Álvarez, Enzo Fernández, and Alexis Mac Allister to feature heavily alongside top-tier goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez.
Algeria team news
Under the tactical guidance of manager Vladimir Petković, Algeria enter this challenging opener with plenty of dangerous attacking flair. The Fennec Foxes will be spearheaded by veteran captain Riyad Mahrez, supported by Marseille's Amine Gouiri and Wolfsburg's flying forward Mohamed Amoura.
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