{"id":1475,"date":"2026-06-12T17:30:29","date_gmt":"2026-06-12T21:30:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/ca\/?post_type=news&p=1475"},"modified":"2026-06-12T17:41:46","modified_gmt":"2026-06-12T21:41:46","slug":"match-preview-argentina-vs-algeria-06-16-26-world-cup-2026","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/ca\/news\/world-cup\/match-preview-argentina-vs-algeria-06-16-26-world-cup-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Argentina vs Algeria: Prediction, Picks & Best Bets"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Our Argentina vs Algeria prediction has the holders walking out of Kansas City with the points they came for. Tuesday, June 16, kick-off 9:00 PM ET \/ 8:00 PM CT \/ 7:00 PM MT \/ 6:00 PM PT at Arrowhead Stadium, with Group J getting under way.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Defending a World Cup is a different brief to winning one, and Argentina know it. La Albiceleste land in the United States with the same spine that lifted the trophy in 2022, a settled coaching staff, and the deepest forward line in the field. A clean first 90 against Algeria is the goal, not a statement scoreline; the real prize is finishing top of the group and earning the softer side of the knockout bracket.<\/p>\n

Algeria are not here to fold either. A European-based generation gave them a clean African qualifying group, and Les Fennecs have the pace in transition to punish anyone who treats them as filler. The talent gap is real, but tournament openers rarely look like the team sheets suggest \u2014 Argentina were 2-1 down to Saudi Arabia at the same stage four years ago.<\/p>\n

The market reads it as a clear one. bet365 has Argentina at -239, Algeria out at +600, and the draw +350 \u2014 a three-and-a-half-goal swing in implied edge from favourite to underdog. For where this fixture sits in the wider title race, our World Cup 2026<\/a> outright betting odds page has the full futures picture.<\/p>\n

Argentina vs Algeria: Best Bets & Predictions<\/h2>\n

The card runs short on the favourites and short on goals \u2014 five legs built around Argentina control and a tidy, low-scoring scoreline.<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Our Prediction<\/th>\nOdds & Sportsbook<\/th>\nConfidence<\/th>\nWhy We’re Backing It<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Argentina to Win<\/strong><\/td>\n-239 @ bet365<\/strong><\/a>
(70%)<\/td>\n		\u2b50\u2b50\u2b50\u2b50<\/td>\nClass difference up and down the team sheet, and Scaloni’s group has a habit of getting the first 90 right.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Correct Score: 2-0 Argentina<\/strong><\/td>\n+550 @ bet365<\/strong><\/a>
(15%)<\/td>\n		\u2b50\u2b50\u2b50<\/td>\nGame-management Argentina, not goal-fest Argentina \u2014 a second-half second goal to settle it reads as the most likely route.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Juli\u00e1n Alvarez<\/strong> to Score Anytime<\/td>\nCheck bet365<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\n\u2b50\u2b50\u2b50<\/td>\nEight in La Liga across 29 outings for Atl\u00e9tico Madrid, and a player who tends to turn up on the bigger occasions.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Under 2.5 Goals<\/strong><\/td>\n-111 @ bet365<\/strong><\/a>
(52%)<\/td>\n		\u2b50\u2b50\u2b50<\/td>\nOpening fixtures historically run cagey, and a controlling favourite can win this without stretching for a third.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Both Teams to Score: No<\/strong><\/td>\n-163 @ bet365<\/strong><\/a>
(62%)<\/td>\n		\u2b50\u2b50\u2b50<\/td>\nCristian Romero anchors a back line that handled tougher attacks in qualifying; Algeria’s chances should be on the counter, not from sustained pressure.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n

How to build it: anchor the slip with Argentina to win, then layer the 2-0 scoreline and an Alvarez goal for the parlay stretch.<\/p>\n

Odds correct at the time of writing. Please play responsibly.<\/small><\/p>\n\n

Group J \u2014 2026 FIFA World Cup<\/h2>\n

Nobody has kicked a ball yet, so the standings below reflect the December draw rather than any played fixtures. Argentina are the seeded headline, with Algeria, Austria, and Jordan rounding out a group that looks open below the favourite.<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Team<\/th>\nPos<\/th>\nGP<\/th>\nW<\/th>\nD<\/th>\nL<\/th>\nGF<\/th>\nGA<\/th>\nGD<\/th>\nPts<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Argentina<\/strong><\/td>\n1<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Algeria<\/strong><\/td>\n2<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Austria<\/strong><\/td>\n3<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Jordan<\/strong><\/td>\n4<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n

Potential Match-Winners<\/h2>\n