Our 13/2 four-fold bet builder with bet365 for the Argentina vs Algeria Group J opener at Arrowhead Stadium Kansas City combines Argentina to win to nil at 4/5, Lionel Messi anytime goalscorer at 1/1, Argentina to score 2+ goals at 8/13, and Lautaro Martinez over 0.5 shots on target at 1/4.
Kick-off is 2am UK time on Wednesday 17 June. Live on ITV.
Argentina vs Algeria Match Preview
Lionel Messi’s 200th international cap, his sixth World Cup, his last shot at making history twice. If you are not watching this one, you are doing the World Cup wrong. Lionel Scaloni knows better than anyone that opening games at this tournament can bite you. He will not be taking Algeria lightly, and neither should we.
This Argentina squad is frightening. They have won seven straight friendlies, scoring 21 goals and conceding just once. They beat Brazil 4-1 in qualifying. They battered Zambia 5-0, cruised past Honduras and Iceland in their final warm-ups. Messi has 117 international goals and 13 World Cup strikes heading into this. Lautaro Martinez was Serie A’s top scorer last season with 17 goals in 30 appearances. Enzo Fernandez had 15 goals and 7 assists for Chelsea across all competitions. Mac Allister, De Paul, Alvarez all waiting in the wings. This is a properly stacked squad from one to eleven, and Scaloni has them purring at exactly the right moment. Four clean sheets in their last five matches. One goal conceded across the entire run. If you are Algeria, you are looking at that and genuinely wondering where your goal is coming from.
And Algeria are not a bad side. Let’s be clear about that. They topped their CAF qualifying group seven points clear of Uganda, scoring 24 goals in 10 games. Vladimir Petkovic has them well organised, and they pulled off something genuinely impressive by beating the Netherlands 1-0 in Rotterdam in their final warm-up. Mohamed Amoura is a real threat, with 10 goals in 15 continental matches, and Riyad Mahrez at 35 still carries the quality and experience to hurt any defence on his day. This is Algeria’s first World Cup since 2014, and they come with genuine motivation and a point to prove.
The problem is Bensebaini, their most experienced centre-back with 82 caps, is out injured. Without him, their central defensive unit carries real uncertainty and that is precisely where Messi and Lautaro operate. Algeria also lost 2-0 to Nigeria at AFCON when they faced a genuinely top African side, failing to register a single shot on target. The step up from CAF qualifying to facing Argentina at a World Cup is enormous, and you have to wonder if it is a step too far.
One previous meeting between these sides. Argentina 4-3 Algeria in a friendly back in 2007. Messi scored twice.
Argentina vs Algeria Bet Builder (13/2 with bet365)
| Bet Builder Leg | Odds |
|---|---|
| Argentina to Win to Nil | 4/5 |
| Lionel Messi Anytime Goalscorer | 1/1 |
| Argentina to Score 2+ Goals | 8/13 |
| Lautaro Martinez Over 0.5 Shots on Target | 1/4 |
| Combined four-fold (bet365) | 13/2 |
Argentina to Win to Nil @ 4/5
Four clean sheets in five matches. One goal conceded across the entire pre-tournament run. Algeria without their most experienced central defender in Bensebaini. The Desert Foxes managed zero shots on target against Nigeria at AFCON. This Argentina back line, with Emiliano Martinez back fit in goal and Romero and Otamendi in front of him, is still a very good defensive unit. Algeria will set up deep and compact and try to limit the damage. Argentina keeping a clean sheet at 4/5 looks like outstanding value and honestly it would be a massive surprise if Algeria found a way through.
Lionel Messi Anytime Goalscorer @ 1/1
His 200th international cap. His sixth World Cup. Four goals from Miroslav Klose’s all-time scoring record. If there was ever a night for Messi to turn up and deliver something special, it is this one in Kansas City. He has 13 World Cup goals across five tournaments, scored seven times at Qatar 2022 alone, and is Argentina’s first-choice penalty taker. Algeria will be so focused on stopping everyone else that Messi will find his moments drifting in from the right. Evens for the greatest player of all time to score on the most historic night of his international career is genuinely remarkable value.
Argentina to Score 2+ Goals @ 8/13
Argentina have scored two or more goals in six consecutive games. They averaged 2.8 goals per game across their last five outings and went and beat Honduras 2-0, Iceland 3-0, Zambia 5-0 and Mauritania 2-1 in their warm-ups. They have Messi, Lautaro, Alvarez, Almada and De Paul all capable of scoring. Algeria are missing their best centre-back and will be exposed repeatedly by the relentless movement of this attack. Two goals against this Algerian defensive unit is not a prediction, it is almost an expectation. At 8/13 this is a cornerstone of the builder.
Lautaro Martinez Over 0.5 Shots on Target @ 1/4
Yes the price is short but this is as close to a guarantee as betting gets. Serie A’s top scorer last season with 17 goals in 30 appearances. 37 international goals in 77 caps for Argentina. He is going to get chances in this game, lots of them, against an Algerian defence missing Bensebaini and untested at this level. Lautaro Martinez not registering a single shot on target against this Algeria side would be one of the genuine shocks of the tournament. At 1/4 you are adding near certainty to the builder and boosting the overall return in the process.
Argentina vs Algeria Key Stats
- This is Lionel Messi’s 200th international cap for Argentina
- Messi has 117 international goals and 13 World Cup goals heading into this match
- Messi is 4 goals away from breaking Miroslav Klose’s all-time World Cup scoring record
- Messi scored 7 goals at Qatar 2022 alone
- This is Messi’s sixth World Cup — joining Cristiano Ronaldo as the only male players to play in six editions
- Messi holds the record for most World Cup match appearances (26)
- Argentina have won seven straight friendlies scoring 21 goals and conceding just once
- Argentina kept four clean sheets in their last five matches
- Argentina scored 2+ goals in six consecutive games
- Argentina averaged 2.8 goals per game across their last five outings
- Argentina warm-up results: Honduras 2-0, Iceland 3-0, Zambia 5-0, Mauritania 2-1 wins
- Argentina beat Brazil 4-1 in qualifying
- Lautaro Martinez was Serie A’s top scorer last season with 17 goals in 30 appearances
- Lautaro has 37 international goals in 77 caps
- Enzo Fernandez scored 15 goals with 7 assists for Chelsea last season
- Algeria topped their CAF qualifying group 7 points clear of Uganda, scoring 24 goals in 10 games
- Algeria beat the Netherlands 1-0 in Rotterdam in their final warm-up
- Algeria are missing centre-back Bensebaini (82 caps, most experienced defender) through injury
- Algeria lost 2-0 to Nigeria at AFCON failing to register a single shot on target
- This is Algeria’s first World Cup since 2014
- Head-to-head: Argentina 4-3 Algeria in 2007 friendly (Messi scored twice) — only previous meeting
- Group J also contains Austria and Jordan
- Scaloni aims to become first manager to win back-to-back World Cups since Vittorio Pozzo (Italy 1934-1938)
Argentina vs Algeria Team News
Lionel Scaloni has a fully fit Argentina spine — Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa) in goal, Cristian Romero (Spurs) and Nicolas Otamendi anchoring the back four. Lisandro Martinez (Manchester United) provides depth. The midfield trio of Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea) and Rodrigo De Paul gives Argentina arguably the strongest central spine at the tournament. Messi leads with Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan) — Argentina’s two most lethal forwards in their finest form. Julian Alvarez, Nicolas Almada and Paulo Dybala available as game-changers. Argentina injuries: Giovani Lo Celso, Juan Foyth, Nicolas Gonzalez and Nicolas Tagliafico all unavailable.
Algeria’s biggest concern is the absence of Ramy Bensebaini — their most-capped current defender (82 caps) is missing through injury. Mandi and Bedrane likely partner at centre-back. Mohamed Amoura up top with Riyad Mahrez wide. Coach Vladimir Petkovic has built a compact 4-2-3-1 — defensive shape with counter-attack outlet through Mahrez’s quality. Goalkeeper Anthony Mandrea expected to start.
Argentina vs Algeria Bet Builder Summary
| Bet Builder Leg | Odds | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Argentina to Win to Nil | 4/5 | bet365 |
| Lionel Messi Anytime Goalscorer | 1/1 | bet365 |
| Argentina to Score 2+ Goals | 8/13 | bet365 |
| Lautaro Martinez Over 0.5 Shots on Target | 1/4 | bet365 |
| Combined four-fold | 13/2 | bet365 |
Final Prediction
Argentina control this from start to finish. Messi delivers on his historic occasion, Lautaro causes carnage in behind Algeria’s makeshift defence, and Emiliano Martinez barely has a save to make. Algeria give a decent account of themselves and Mahrez tries a few things from distance but the class gap is simply too wide. The champions make their statement in Kansas City.
How to Watch Argentina vs Algeria in the UK
Kick-off: 2am UK time, Wednesday 17 June 2026
TV: ITV1 (free-to-air) — coverage begins approximately 1:15am
Live streaming: ITVX (free with sign-up)
Venue: Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri — capacity 76,416, home of the Kansas City Chiefs (NFL) and consistently rated one of the loudest venues in American sports
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