Tonight the Mundial delivers the most star-studded evening of the group stage: Kylian Mbappé opens France's campaign against Senegal, Erling Haaland makes his World Cup debut against Iraq, and reigning champion Lionel Messi leads Argentina onto the pitch against Algeria. Four matches across Groups I and J — and not one can be missed.
Day's schedule
- 22:00 Kyiv time. France vs Senegal (Group I, Matchday 1). MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey.
- 01:00 Kyiv time (June 17). Iraq vs Norway (Group I, Matchday 1). Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, Massachusetts.
- 04:00 Kyiv time (June 17). Argentina vs Algeria (Group J, Matchday 1). Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri.
- 07:00 Kyiv time (June 17). Austria vs Jordan (Group J, Matchday 1). Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, California.
22:00 Kyiv time. France vs Senegal (Group I, Matchday 1)
The headline match of the day. 2022 World Cup finalist France opens its tournament at MetLife Stadium — the very same venue where the final will be held on July 19. For Les Bleus, this is the first step in the pursuit of a second title in three tournaments. Senegal are no makeweights: the Teranga Lions qualified by topping CAF qualifying Group B and have their own ambitions to advance from the group. A symbolic detail: it was Senegal who beat France 1–0 in the opening match of the 2002 World Cup.
France's attacking trio of Mbappé, Dembélé and Michael Olise is capable of dismantling any defence in the tournament. Didier Deschamps leads a squad many consider the deepest at this Mundial. The prize is an early lead in Group I: the winner will gain a psychological edge heading into the second round.
01:00 Kyiv time. Iraq vs Norway (Group I, Matchday 1)
Norway return to the World Cup for the first time since 1998 — and they do so with Erling Haaland leading the attack. The Scandinavians' golden generation, built around Haaland and Martin Ødegaard, finally gets its chance on the biggest stage. Iraq made a long journey through qualifying and arrive in Boston intent on making Norway's debut as difficult as possible. Gillette Stadium, 01:00 Kyiv time.
04:00 Kyiv time. Argentina vs Algeria (Group J, Matchday 1)
The reigning champions take the field. Lionel Messi's Argentina are aiming to become the first team to retain the title since Brazil did so in 1962. Their opponents, Algeria, are — in coach Scaloni's own words — "a team with excellent players and a strong youth academy." Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, 04:00 Kyiv time. Remember how Argentina lost to Saudi Arabia in the first round in 2022? Scaloni certainly does.
07:00 Kyiv time. Austria vs Jordan (Group J, Matchday 1)
Austria — one of Europe's most progressive sides in recent years — make their Mundial debut against Jordan, who are appearing at the World Cup for the very first time in their history. Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, 07:00 Kyiv time. The result of this match will directly shape the Group J standings before Argentina and Algeria even have time to celebrate their own kick-off.
Full results from all four matches will be in the evening edition of Nightly Mundial and the morning digest on June 17: who leads Groups I and J and what awaits the teams in the second round.
