Argentina’s 2026 World Cup campaign begins with a group match against Algeria, with multiple outlets citing expectations that Lionel Messi will play. Coverage notes that Argentina are preparing to start their Group J campaign against Algeria on Tuesday, and betting-focused reporting points readers to wagering markets. One report says Messi is expected to play in the opener, while another betting preview indicates that, in related fixtures, Messi could be used as a substitute rather than starting immediately. Separate CBS Sports previews also cover Argentina’s other group matches, including games reportedly scheduled against Austria and Jordan, again framing the content through odds and predictions. These articles attribute their betting recommendations to SportsLine analyst Martin Green, who provides picks for forthcoming matches and discusses Messi’s proximity to an all-time World Cup scoring record. Across the different matchups mentioned, the common themes are Argentina’s upcoming schedule in the 2026 tournament, the role of Messi as a central factor in team news and match expectations, and the availability of sports-betting previews and expert selections tied to match times and odds.