The much-anticipated "Big Star Relay" featuring Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, and Lionel Messi is just a day away.
According to the schedule for the group stage of the 2026 FIFA North America World Cup, France will face Senegal in Group I at 4 AM (Korean time) on June 17. This will be followed by Iraq taking on Norway at 7 AM, and Argentina playing Algeria at 10 AM.
The opening match pits France against Senegal. Mbappe, a key player for the title-contending French team, has already made a strong impression on the World Cup stage. However, as the captain of the national team, he faces pressure regarding his recent performances. For France, establishing momentum in their first group match is crucial.
Senegal holds a special place in World Cup history for France, having defeated the defending champions 1-0 in the opening match of the 2002 World Cup. That result is remembered as one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history. After 24 years, the two teams will meet again in the first match of the group stage.
At 7 AM, Haaland will make his World Cup debut. Norway returns to the tournament for the first time since the 1998 World Cup, and this squad is considered a "golden generation" led by Haaland and Martin Ødegaard. This tournament marks Haaland's first World Cup appearance, and fans are eager to see how the prolific scorer performs in the national team jersey.
Norway's first opponent is Iraq. While Norway is expected to be the stronger team, the nerves that come with a first match could be a factor. Norway's coach Ståle Solbakken is wary of Iraq's organization and defense. For Norway, securing three points in their first match after a 28-year absence is essential to set the tone in Group I against France and Senegal.
At 10 AM, Argentina will face Algeria in their first match of Group J. Lionel Messi, who led Argentina to victory in the 2022 Qatar World Cup, will once again take the field. This could be Messi's last World Cup, drawing even more attention to his opening match.
Argentina enters the tournament as the defending champions, with many members of the 2022 winning squad still in the lineup and under the continued leadership of coach Lionel Scaloni. The match against Algeria is the first step in their title defense.
However, the final lineups for Mbappe, Haaland, and Messi will be confirmed shortly before the matches, as teams may adjust their player selections based on fitness and tactical considerations.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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