World Cup reaction and build up LIVE – France and Argentina prepare for their opening games

Staying up to watch Lionel Messi and Argentina?

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of Argentina v Algeria: How to watch Argentina v Algeria, team news, predicted line-ups and more

The reigning world champions have plenty of support in Kansas City ahead of their opening game against Algeria later!

Argentina have arrived at the World Cup! 🇦🇷

The Messi shirts are out in force ✨ pic.twitter.com/8VGfjtcIL2

— Hayters TV (@HaytersTV) June 16, 2026

Norway are also playing tonight, in what will be Man City striker Erling Haaland’s first ever game at a World Cup.

“It felt missing in 2022 in Qatar and also in the Euros in 2024. So now it finally happened, and it was about time,” Haaland told ESPN ahead of his side’s game against Iraq.

“It was a lot of pressure. It is a lot of pressure now still, but yeah, I could feel it ever since I started with the national team, the pressure [to get to a World Cup]. The more time I’ve been there, the more pressure, of course, on my shoulders. But again, even better that we managed to do it, and it’s an amazing feeling.

“To qualify for the World Cup is a really special thing. I’m looking forward to it. It’s going to be amazing. Finally.”

Belgium got their World Cup started by drawing 1-1 with Egypt yesterday. Boss Rudi Garcia admitted his disappointment, and says his side must beat Iran in their next game.

“We have to win against Iran,” he said. “There are no two ways about it.”

Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni has confirmed that Lionel Messi, Emiliano Martínez and Julián Álvarez are all set to be fit for their opening game against Algeria.

Asked about Messi’s role this World Cup, Scaloni added: “Everyone wants to see [Leo] Messi inside the field, playing. He excited everyone, not just Argentines.

“From my part, it’ll always be like that. I don’t see anything negative. He’s been in different conditions and has always been here. He’s always been monumental for us, and now he will be even more. I see him well.”

England defender Tino Livramento has been ruled out of the World Cup through injury in a blow ahead of their first game against Croatia.

Chelsea’s Trevoh Chalobah is the man who will be called up to replace him.

READ MORE: Chelsea star to replace injured Livramento in England squad

Didier Deschamps begins his final tournament in charge of France when they face Senegal later tonight.

Here’s all you need to know ahead of the clash: How to watch France v Senegal, team news, predicted line-ups and more

Tournament favourites France kick off their World Cup against Senegal later.

Boss Didier Deschamps was asked about the difficulty of managing Kylian Mbappe ahead of their opening game, and had this to say…

“I speak to [Mbappé] very often and he’s a world-famous player even in the US but it’s his life.

“He manages himself. Kylian is Kylian. The younger generation, the less younger, love him everywhere in the world, but that doesn’t mean he’s not normal when he plays and when he’s in the group. This has got nothing to do with why he is not here today.”

More from the Spain boss after yesterday’s shock result: Spain boss de la Fuente says he is ‘calm’ despite shock draw against Cape Verde

After Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha’s incredible performance against Spain, the shot stopper’s Instagram page rose from 50,000 followers to more than 5m overnight.

“I work hard all my life for this, for this moment, for this dream,” Vozinha said after the game. “A lot of generations in the past were dreaming of this, they didn’t achieve it, many ex players from our national team … And now the dream has come true.

“All of us are happy because we work a lot to be here, but we deserve to be here. Today [it was] a great game against Spain, they’re one of the best in the world.”

Tunisia have appointed Herve Renard as their new head coach after sacking Sabri Lamouchi following their heavy opening game defeat to Sweden.

Bielsa also explained why he decided not to look at the camera for his FIFA photoshoot, which has since gone viral.

“I don’t have to give any explanation, the picture was taken the way it was taken,” he said.

“I’m not a model.”

Marcelo Bielsa refused to engage with his World Cup photoshoot ❌ pic.twitter.com/IU0zLzjAYV

— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) June 16, 2026

The Uruguay boss on his side’s opening game draw with Saudi Arabia: “I think the fact we didn’t win is linked to not being able to get the best version of ourselves. That’s why we weren’t able to win. We had everything to play in the first half like we did in the second half, but we only did it in half of the time.

“The game changed during the second half. More options, people were able to move, run off the ball and make situations.

“It’s part of what happens in games. Sometimes with few chances you score goals and sometimes with many chances you can’t do it.”

After Spain’s shock draw with minnows Cape Verde yesterday, Spanish boss Luis de la Fuente insists his side need to remain calm and focus on what has got them to where they are.

“This team is reliable, whatever happens. We’re a team with an extraordinary reliability. We haven’t lost in 32 matches. We’ll be better in the next game, for sure.

“When you lack freshness and getting the final ball right, this can happen. It’s something to improve, nothing else. We’ll stay on our path, which has taken us this far.”

Iran’s head coach Amir Ghalenoei hit out at his side being made to leave the USA immediately after their game against New Zealand to return to their Mexico training camp.

“After the game today they said to us, ‘You have to leave immediately,’” Ghalenoi said. “Whereas today it’s very important for us to have recovery.

“We’ve been asked to get on a plane and return to our camp in Tijuana and we are really troubled by that. They are forcing us to go back early. They are making the situation more and more difficult, more hurdles, but we’re not going to let that stop us from doing our best.

“We don’t know why they’re returning us, to be honest. I think it’s very strange. It seems like others are doing the planning for us … We were supposed to arrive two nights before the game but they didn’t permit [it]. We were supposed to stay here tonight to recover and return tomorrow lunchtime.

“I think our team is the most oppressed one in the whole World Cup. Our federation isn’t here, our media isn’t here, our management isn’t here.”

After Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha’s heroic performance to earn his side a shock draw against Spain, there was another top goalkeeping display by Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed Al-Owais to secure a point against Uruguay.

The Saudi Arabia shot stopper made nine saves against Uruguay, the most in a game at the tournament so far.

Most saves in a match at this World Cup so far 🧤

What a performance from Mohammed Al-Owais 👏 pic.twitter.com/jnWCG5qoAX

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 16, 2026

The Iran national team’s difficult situation because of the wider political context has been well documented. But despite that, on the pitch they still managed to put in a performance which earned them a point.

Mohammad Mohebi with a real strikers' finish to equalise for Iran 🎯 pic.twitter.com/qQ011ZTLu6

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 16, 2026

Motherwell’s Elijah Just scored twice against Iran to secure New Zealand a 2-2 draw, thanks also to some brilliant play by Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood.

Elijah Just ⚽x2
Chris Wood 🅰️x2

The same combination worked wonders for New Zealand against Iran 👏 pic.twitter.com/oUXPHPPNU3

— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) June 16, 2026

Good morning and welcome to today’s live blog!

Iran played out a 2-2 draw with New Zealand overnight, while Uruguay also drew with Saudi Arabia. We’ll have some reaction to those games.