BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

will end a 28-year absence from the FIFA World Cup when they face tournament debutants Jordan in a Group J clash at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, with both nations aiming to make a strong start to their campaigns.

For Austria, the match marks a return to football’s biggest stage for the first time since France 1998 and the beginning of their eighth World Cup appearance overall. Jordan, meanwhile, will make history by playing their first-ever match at the global showpiece after a remarkable rise in Asian football over the past two years.

The encounter will also be a landmark occasion for Austria, who will face an Asian Football Confederation (AFC) representative at the World Cup for the first time in their history.

Austria boast a proud World Cup tradition dating back to the early years of the tournament. They reached the semi-finals in 1934 and enjoyed their finest campaign in 1954 when they secured third place.

That 1954 tournament also produced one of the most memorable matches in World Cup history. Austria recovered from a 3-0 deficit to defeat hosts Switzerland 7-5 in the quarter-finals, a contest that remains the highest-scoring match ever played at the FIFA World Cup.

Despite their rich history, Austria have struggled to make a significant impact at recent tournaments. They have advanced beyond the first stage only once since 1954, reaching the second group phase at the 1982 World Cup.

Coach Ralf Rangnick will be hoping to reverse that trend after guiding the Austrians back to the finals. However, recent World Cup statistics suggest there is work to do, with Austria having won only one of their last nine matches at the tournament while recording three draws and five defeats.

One intriguing statistic is that none of Austria’s previous 29 World Cup matches has ever ended goalless, highlighting a tradition of open and entertaining football whenever they appear on the global stage.

History also favours Austria in opening matches. They have lost only two of their seven previous World Cup curtain-raisers, winning four and drawing one.

Jordan, however, arrive in North America full of confidence after a historic qualification campaign.

Al Nashama secured their place at the World Cup on June 5, 2025, when a convincing 3-0 victory over Oman, combined with Iraq’s defeat to South Korea later that day, guaranteed them automatic qualification with a match to spare.

The Jordanians lost only three of their 16 matches throughout the Asian qualifying campaign, underlining their growing stature on the continental stage.

Their qualification follows a golden period for Jordanian football. In early 2024, they stunned many observers by reaching the AFC Asian Cup final for the first time before eventually losing 3-1 to hosts and defending champions Qatar.

Jordan also reached the final of the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025, narrowly missing out on the trophy after suffering a dramatic 3-2 extra-time defeat to Morocco.

Coach Jamal Sellami brings World Cup experience to the Jordan bench, having been part of Morocco’s squad at the 1998 FIFA World Cup.

The North Africans-turned-West Asians have shown remarkable consistency under Sellami and will view their opening match as an opportunity to announce themselves on the biggest stage.

While Austria’s World Cup pedigree and European experience make them favourites, Jordan’s recent achievements suggest they are capable of causing problems for more established opponents.

With Austria eager to mark their long-awaited return with victory and Jordan determined to celebrate their historic debut in style, the Group J encounter promises to be one of the most intriguing opening matches of the tournament.

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BY KUNLE SOLAJA

Lionel Messi is set to reach another remarkable milestone in his glittering international career when Argentina face Algeria in their FIFA World Cup 2026 Group J opener, with the Argentine captain preparing to make his 200th senior appearance for his country.

The match will also revive a rare international rivalry, as the two nations have met only once before. That encounter came in June 2007 when Argentina edged Algeria 4-3 in an entertaining friendly.

The game is remembered as a significant moment in Messi’s development on the international stage. Then just 19 years old, the future World Cup winner scored twice for Argentina, marking the first time he netted more than once in a senior international match.

Nearly two decades later, Messi remains the central figure in Argentine football and continues to rewrite the record books.

The reigning world champions will look to begin their title defence with victory against the North Africans, while Messi’s 200th appearance adds further significance to the occasion.

Since that memorable meeting in 2007, Messi has gone on to establish himself as one of the greatest players in football history, leading Argentina to numerous major honours, including the FIFA World Cup title in Qatar in 2022 and multiple continental trophies.

The milestone appearance is another testament to the longevity, consistency and influence of the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, whose international career has spanned almost two decades.

For Algeria, meanwhile, the match offers an opportunity to avenge that narrow defeat and test themselves against one of the tournament favourites.

The Desert Foxes arrive at the World Cup with ambitions of progressing beyond the group stage and will hope to spoil what is expected to be a celebratory occasion for Argentina’s iconic captain.

While the focus will inevitably fall on Messi and his latest landmark, Argentina will be wary of an Algerian side eager to create its own piece of history on the world stage.

As the defending champions begin their campaign, all eyes will be on the man who first announced himself against Algeria in 2007 and who now stands on the verge of a historic 200th appearance in the famous blue-and-white shirt.

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BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

Egypt made an encouraging start to their FIFA World Cup campaign on Monday, holding fancied Belgium to a 1-1 draw in a Group G encounter that left the Pharaohs believing they deserved all three points.

Hossam Hassan’s side stunned the Belgians when midfielder Emam Ashour scored his first international goal in the 19th minute, and Egypt looked on course for a famous victory before an unfortunate own goal by defender Mohamed Hany allowed Belgium to escape with a share of the spoils.

Had Egypt won, it would have been their first victory since debuting at the World Cup in 1934.

The result nevertheless handed Egypt a valuable point against one of Europe’s traditional powerhouses and underlined the team’s growing confidence on football’s biggest stage.

Despite Belgium enjoying more possession in the opening stages, Egypt remained disciplined and dangerous on the counterattack. Their breakthrough came when captain Mohamed Salah, celebrating his 34th birthday, picked out Ashour with a precise pass. The midfielder responded with a powerful strike that beat goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and sent Egyptian fans into celebration.

Belgium struggled to find a response before halftime. Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku both squandered opportunities as Egypt’s defence stood firm, while goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir inspired confidence at the back.

The Europeans increased the pressure after the interval, with De Bruyne striking the post from a free kick. Yet Egypt also created chances to extend their lead and looked increasingly capable of securing a memorable victory.

The turning point arrived in the 66th minute when Belgium coach Rudi Garcia introduced record goalscorer Romelu Lukaku. Within seconds of his arrival, Belgium found an equaliser as a dangerous cross was inadvertently turned into his own net by Mohamed Hany under pressure inside the penalty area.

Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku celebrates after his introduction sparked the equaliser during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group G match against Egypt at Seattle Stadium in Seattle, Washington, on June 15, 2026. Egypt defender Mohamed Hany inadvertently turned a dangerous Belgian cross into his own net as the teams settled for a 1-1 draw. Photo: Reuters/Lee Smith.

Even after conceding, Egypt refused to retreat. The Pharaohs continued to push forward and created several opportunities in a lively finish, while Lukaku missed a clear chance to snatch victory for Belgium when he headed over from close range late in the match.

Egypt coach Hossam Hassan expressed pride in his players’ display and insisted his side had been closer to winning than their opponents.

“We were the ones who scored the opening goal, and they equalised,” Hassan said after the match. “I believe we were closer to winning. The chances we created were arguably more in our favour.”

The Egyptian coach also voiced frustration over a late incident involving Ahmed Mostafa “Zizo”, who went down inside the Belgian penalty area following contact from Maxim De Cuyper. The referee waved play on, and VAR did not intervene.

“What surprises me is that there was no VAR review and the referee didn’t even consider going back to check it,” Hassan said. “That was a 100 per cent penalty. If it had been against us, it would have been given.”

While disappointment lingered over the missed opportunity to secure a famous win, the performance offered plenty of encouragement for Egypt as they continue their Group G campaign.

The Pharaohs demonstrated defensive organisation, attacking ambition and resilience against one of the tournament’s higher-ranked teams, suggesting they could emerge as strong contenders for a place in the knockout rounds.

The result leaves Group G finely balanced ahead of the clash between Iran and New Zealand later on Monday, while Egypt can take confidence from a display that showed they are capable of competing with the world’s best.

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