Alvarez Argentina: Julian Alvarez Benched for 2026 Opener vs Algeria
alvarez argentina begins its 2026 World Cup opener against Algeria with Julian Alvarez on the bench, and Lionel Scaloni has picked Lautaro Martinez to start at center forward in Kansas City. The decision changes the shape of Argentina’s attack for its first match as defending world champions.
Lautaro Martinez Starts in Kansas City
Scaloni went with Martinez as a traditional, physical number nine over Alvarez, a choice that points to a clear preference for a different starting profile in the opening lineup. Lionel Messi is also set to earn his 200th international cap in the same match.
For Alvarez, the omission is tied to a tactical call and his recovery from an ankle injury. He remains part of the squad, but he will wait for his first minutes of the tournament rather than leading the line from the opening whistle.
Scaloni’s World Cup Choice
The move comes after Martinez had recently reclaimed his role as Scaloni’s preferred number nine during Argentina’s pre-tournament friendlies. That left Alvarez competing for a place even before the team reached Kansas City, where Argentina opened against Algeria in the 2026 World Cup.
Alvarez was a breakout superstar and a cornerstone of Argentina’s 2022 World Cup title run in Qatar, so his place on the bench is the sharpest personnel call in the lineup. Scaloni chose to open with the striker who best fit the manager’s current plan, not the forward with the flashiest recent World Cup résumé.
Argentina’s First Test
The selection also gives Argentina a different attacking balance in a tournament opener that carries the weight of the 2022 crown. Alvarez gives Scaloni a major option if the game calls for a change in tempo, while Martinez gives him the starting reference point he trusted during the build-up.
Fans watching Argentina’s opener should read the lineup as a sign of how Scaloni wants to start the tournament: with Martinez in the middle, Messi reaching a major cap milestone, and Alvarez waiting for a chance to force his way back into the first XI.
