I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the first few days of this World Cup, contrary to my own expectations. The crowds have been lively, the games have been fun, and the fever is catching all around this vast country. It’s early days still, barely halfway through the first set of group stage games, but so far … so good.
And today is set up for further fun, with both finalists from four years ago and one of the more popular dark horse candidates all beginning their journeys.
FRANCE vs. SENEGAL
LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 15: Nicolas Jackson of Chelsea celebrates scoring his team’s fourth goal with teammate Malo Gusto during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Everton FC at Stamford Bridge on April 15, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 15: Nicolas Jackson of Chelsea celebrates scoring his team’s fourth goal with teammate Malo Gusto during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Everton FC at Stamford Bridge on April 15, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Beaten finalists four years ago. Champions the four years prior to that. Ever-expectant, World Cups tend to go either great, or downright disastrous for France. Champions 1998, 2018. Didn’t win a game 2022, 2010. Runners-up 2006, 2022. Didn’t even qualify 1990, 1994.
One of those disasters began with defeat to Senegal in the opening match of the 2002 tournament.
Senegal, who’d go all the way to the quarterfinals that year, and to the Round of 16 four years ago, won the most recent Africa Cup of Nations back in January, but then had the title stripped from them by administrative decision two months later. That doesn’t take away from the quality in their squad, or the ambition with which they arrive.
Date / Time: Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 3pm EDT; 8pm BST
Venue: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ, USA
Referee: Alireza Faghani (Iran)
On TV: FOX, Telemundo (USA); BBC One (UK); elsewhere
Streaming online: FOX One, Peacock (USA); BBC iPlayer (UK)
Chelsea interest: Malo Gusto has established himself as a regular for France over the past year and should see plenty of minutes from head coach (and former Chelsea player) Didier Deschamps. Meanwhile, history’s most adorable midfield destroyer, N’Golo Kanté is back, reestablishing himself in the selection since late last year. He even came back to Europe from Saudi Arabia, on loan to Fenerbahçe for whom he would play most every minute, to ensure his place.
In the other corner of this heavyweight bout, we’ve got ex-Chelsea tower of power Kalidou “K2” Koulibaly and the big towel himself, Édouard Mendy. And we’ve also got everyone’s favorite agent of chaos, Nicolas Jackson. Will the Good Nico or the Bad Nico show up? Spoiler alert, they’re the same Nico. And let’s not forget about Mamadou Sarr, unlike the coaches at Chelsea after he got recalled from Strasbourg in January.
IRAQ vs. NORWAY
GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA - JUNE 10: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Erling Haaland #9 of Norway poses for a portrait during the official FIFA World Cup 2026 portrait session on June 10, 2026 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Scott Taetsch - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA - JUNE 10: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Erling Haaland #9 of Norway poses for a portrait during the official FIFA World Cup 2026 portrait session on June 10, 2026 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Scott Taetsch - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
FIFA via Getty Images
Iraq have only ever been to one World Cup before, Mexico 86, when they lost all three of their games. Norway haven’t done much better either, though they did reach the Round of 16 in 1998, which was their most recent appearance. They are a popular pick for tournament dark-horses this year as Erling Haaland gets to play in his first World Cup.
Date / Time: Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 6pm EDT; 11pm BST
Venue: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA, USA
Referee: Pierre Atcho (Gabon)
On TV: FOX, Telemundo (USA); BBC One (UK); elsewhere
Streaming online: FOX One, Peacock (USA); BBC iPlayer (UK)
Chelsea interest: No Chelsea players, current or former, on either team. We did make a play for Norway’s Antonio Nusa back in 2023, but failed to turn his head. The young winger would join RB Leipzig the following summer; he’s still there, for now.
ARGENTINA vs. ALGERIA
Argentina’s midfielder #24 Enzo Fernandez (R) and Argentina’s forward #10 Lionel Messi (L) take part in a training session ahead of Argentina’s 2026 World Cup football tournament Group A football match against Algeria in Kansas City on June 13, 2026. (Photo by JUAN MABROMATA / AFP via Getty Images)
Argentina’s midfielder #24 Enzo Fernandez (R) and Argentina’s forward #10 Lionel Messi (L) take part in a training session ahead of Argentina’s 2026 World Cup football tournament Group A football match against Algeria in Kansas City on June 13, 2026. (Photo by JUAN MABROMATA / AFP via Getty Images)
AFP via Getty Images
Argentina are looking to become the first country since Brazil in 1962 to repeat as World Cup champions. Their team is largely unchanged from four years ago, with a whopping 17 players returning. The one big absence is Ángel Di María, who’s retired from international duty.
Argentina began the 2022 tournament by losing to Saudi Arabia, 2-1 in a big shocker, so they are unlikely to panic even if Algeria pull off an upset here.
Date / Time: Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 9pm EDT; 2am BST (next day)
Venue: Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO, USA
Referee: Szymon Marciniak (Poland)
On TV: FOX, Telemundo (USA); ITV 1 (UK); elsewhere
Streaming online: FOX One, Peacock (USA); ITVx (UK)
Chelsea interest: This list starts with Enzo Fernández and ends with Valentín Barco. (Barco’s not yet officially a Chelsea player, just as Enzo hasn’t left yet by any means, but let’s assume the expected outcomes are going to be the actual outcomes sooner or later.) And yes, Lionel Messi is still around as well.
AUSTRIA vs. JORDAN
Vienna, Austria - June 1: Carney Chukwuemeka of Austria gestures during the international friendly match between Austria and Tunisia at Ernst Happel Stadion on June 1, 2026 in Vienna, Austria. (Photo by Marco Steinbrenner/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images)
Vienna, Austria - June 1: Carney Chukwuemeka of Austria gestures during the international friendly match between Austria and Tunisia at Ernst Happel Stadion on June 1, 2026 in Vienna, Austria. (Photo by Marco Steinbrenner/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images)
DeFodi Images via Getty Images
It’s often the least-heralded matchup that produces the most entertainment in a day. Austria were surprisingly good at the last Euros, reaching the round of 16 while Jordan were runners-up at the last Asian Cup (losing to Qatar) in 2023. Only one Europe-based player for Jordan, to add to the mystery.
Date / Time: Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 9pm PDT; 5am BST (next day)
Venue: Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CA, USA
Referee: Dahane Beida (Mauritania)
On TV: FOX Sports 1, Telemundo (USA); BBC One (UK); elsewhere
Streaming online: FOX One, Peacock (USA); BBC iPlayer (UK)
Chelsea interest: Former Chelsea man Carney Chukwuemeka switched allegiance from England to Austria earlier this year, and has already made three appearances for the country of his birth (born in Vienna before moving to England at a young age). Carnz has managed to stay healthy this season, making a career-high 38 appearances for Borussia Dortmund, which is nice to see.