Guillem Balague
Spanish football journalist

Image source, Getty Images

If Argentina are to become the first nation to successfully defend their World Cup crown since 1962 - and just the third ever - you can almost guarantee Lionel Messi will be at the centre of it.

The 38-year-old is preparing for his sixth World Cup - which will be a joint record with Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo and Mexico's Guillermo Ochoa - but it will be a very different Messi from the one who made his debut for Barcelona back in 2003.

Most players decline. The elite ones find ways to adapt. Ronaldo reinvented himself as a penalty-box predator when his pace went.

Messi has not adapted to decline. He has adapted so he can dominate and stay ahead of a game that has always been chasing him.

Since that 16-year-old made his Barca debut in a friendly against Jose Mourinho's Porto, playing on the right, dribbling and often cutting inside, Messi has reinvented himself at least five times to evolve into the player he is now for Argentina and Inter Miami.

Read Guillem's column here

This week a new mural was unveiled in downtown Kansas City.

Entitled “Dos Naciones, Una Pasion” - meaning two nations, one passion - the painting was daubed by Ecuador-born artist MisterAlek. Ecuador will face Curacao at the Kansas City stadium on June 20.

Not long after the painting was revealed, a car full of Algeria fans drove past showing their colours.

They don't seem too fazed by the looming figure of Lionel Messi, who is set to have a big say in Argentina's game against Algeria tonight.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Helen Willetts
BBC Weather

It’s a late evening kick-off at Kansas City Stadium as the defending world champions Argentina take on Algeria.

Even though the day might start with few showers or thunderstorms, it is currently expected to clear and freshen the air a little, promising a very warm day with strong sunshine.

However with a warning out for severe thunderstorms across the Midwest, it’s worth bearing in mind that there is still a storm risk later.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Most of the Iraq squad face a huge step-up in quality, especially the 10 domestic-based players.

Those players with a higher talent ceiling typically play abroad but many have been struggling for regular games and may lack sharpness.

German-born left-back Merchas Doski, worked as a bricklayer while playing lower league football before later turning professional. A regular for Czech top-flight side Viktoria Plzen, he scored a spectacular goal in June's draw with Spain.

Al-Karma striker Aymen Hussein was the match-winner in the play-off versus Bolivia. The 6ft 2in tall target man dedicated the victory to Iraqis "who have suffered a lot" – and few have more than him. He lost both his father and brother to the violence that has engulfed the country in the past 20 years.

You can read more about Iraq's squad and route to the World Cup here

Image source, Getty Images

Norway's opponents are Iraq, who have benefited from the expanded World Cup format and qualified for the first time since 1986.

But despite earning a place, it was far from straight-forward. They had to go through a lengthy process which ended in them beating Bolivia in an intercontinental play-off to book their spot in this tournament.

And if the bookies are to be believed, they are likely to be among the first to go home as 2,000-1 outsiders.

They have, however, been galvanised by straight-talking Aussie coach Graham Arnold, who has provided continuity in selection and straightforward tactics.

Plus, Arnold knows exactly how to motivate unfancied underdogs, having surpassed expectations to lead Australia to the last 16 in Qatar.

Image source, Getty Images

Norway are also the joint tallest team at this World Cup, which could be a decisive factor at set-pieces.

RB Leipzig winger Antonio Nusa, was labelled 'The Norwegian Neymar' when he made his first-team breakthrough. He lived up to that nickname with 27 successful dribbles in qualifying - more than any other European except Jeremy Doku.

And all-action right-back Julian Ryerson is one of three Norwegians to play every minute in qualifying. His delivery from wide positions could be crucial - he assisted 18 goals in all competitions for Borussia Dortmund this season.

I know it's super early to be talking about the Golden Boot, but does Erling Haaland have a decent chance of winning it?

Thumbs up if you agree, and thumbs down if you don't.

Image source, Getty Images

Who is excited to watch Erling Haaland in the World Cup?

The Manchester City striker scored 27 times in the Premier League last season, while he netted 16 times in World Cup qualification for Norway.

Six teams that made it to the 2026 World Cup - Ecuador, Paraguay, Scotland, Sweden, Switzerland and South Africa - scored fewer goals in qualifying Haaland alone.

Image source, Getty Images

Twenty-eight years after their last men's World Cup appearance, Norway are back – and are a force to be reckoned with.

Their blistering qualifying form, coupled with the presence of household names like Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard, has led this side to be dubbed Norway's 'Golden Generation'.

And it's difficult to argue with that when you look at their centre-forward options of Haaland, Alexander Sorloth [Atletico Madrid] and Jorgen Strand Larsen [Crystal Palace].

Following on from France's opening game against Senegal is Iraq versus Norway.

Hmmm ... I wonder which striker we might talk about next?

Helen Willetts
BBC Weather

Similar to the MetLife Stadium, an evening kick off at Boston Stadium for Iraq v Norway will be dry.

Following what looks set to be a fine and warm day in Foxborough, it is not too humid yet and will still be around 22C as the match starts.

Image source, Getty Images

Senegal have selected 20 players from the "Big Five" European leagues (Premier League, Ligue 1, Bundesliga, La Liga and Serie A) - the joint most of any non-European nation, along with Argentina.

Image source, Getty Images

One of only 10 African players to complete all 900 minutes of qualifying, centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly has played every minute of Senegal's past two World Cup campaigns, although he missed the Afcon final after sustaining an abductor injury in the semis. However, his club campaign was ended in April after a freak collision with a team-mate during training caused a "contusion" to his thigh.

Senegalese headlines prior to the 2022 World Cup surrounded the leg injury sustained by record scorer Sadio Mane just before the finals squad was announced. He was selected but failed to make an appearance in Qatar having scored once in three games in 2018.

Heir-apparent to Mane as Senegal's next superstar is PSG teenager Ibrahim Mbaye. Then 17, he became Senegal's youngest scorer on his first start against Kenya in November last year.

You can find more information about Senegal in our comprehensive guide

Image source, Getty Images

Senegal's status as African champions remains undecided after they appealed the decision of the Confederation of African Football to strip them of the continental title following January's controversial final with Morocco, but they remain arguably the strongest of the African nations at this World Cup.

A squad largely drawn from Europe's elite leagues has the potential to replicate Senegal's finest World Cup showing of reaching the quarter-finals on debut in 2002.

Like then, the Taranga Lions open their tournament with a game against France. Twenty-four years ago, Senegal shocked the defending champions on their way to the last eight.

A repeat win against one of the title favourites this evening would be equally impressive.

Fanatical France superfan Clement Tomaszewski is expected to attend a 10th World Cup having watched his beloved Les Bleus on more than 300 occasions.

Tomaszewski shot to fame during the 1998 World Cup final after he was pictured holding pet cockerel Balthazar aloft following France's 3-0 win against Brazil.

Tomaszewski's small wooden World Cup trophy signed by 13 1998 world champions and his first World Cup ticket from June 16, 1982 are on display at the FIFA Museum in Zurich.

Keep an eye out for him later on ...

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

He may have made just 11 starts in 22 league games, but Paris Saint-Germain winger Ousmane Dembele still won Ligue 1's player-of-the-year award after averaging 1.4 goals and assists per 90 minutes, a tally bettered only by Harry Kane (1.6) in Europe's top five leagues. He also scored in the Champions League final win against Arsenal.

Kylian Mbappe scored 42 goals in 44 games in all competitions in 2025-26. Twelve goals across the past two World Cups are the most of any player, including a hat-trick in the 2022 final. The Real Madrid striker needs four more to equal Germany forward Miroslav Klose's all-time World Cup record of 16.

Michael Olise is another France player in frightening form: the attacking midfielder provided 26 assists for Bayern Munich across all competitions this season, at least four more than any other player in Europe's elite leagues.

But despite their attacking riches, France can occasionally lack for a focal point.

There is a question mark over who starts at left-back with both Lucas Digne and Theo Hernandez perhaps more effective going forward, while the more reliable defensive option, Lucas Hernandez, has been plagued by injuries throughout his career.

Estimates suggest that the nine attacking players selected for France have a combined market value of more than €800m.

Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembele, Kylian Mbappe and Desire Doue alone are worth an estimated €530m – more than the current estimated market value of Brazil's entire World Cup attack (€502m).

Shall we take a look at some of them?

Helen Willetts
BBC Weather

Looking ahead to the weather for today's fixtures, it looks settled with no extremes expected.

France v Senegal kicks off in mid‑afternoon local time at New York/New Jersey Stadium, during the warmest part of the day, with a forecast high of 26°C.

This should be comfortable for the players as the humidity is still relatively low.

Image source, Getty Images

Here's how the schedule for day six of the World Cup looks:

• France v Senegal (20:00 BST)
• Iraq v Norway (23:00 BST)
• Argentina v Algeria (02:00 BST)
• Austria v Jordan (05:00 BST)