Messi hat-trick powers Argentina past Algeria as Jordan fall to Austria in Group J opener

By Tahani Elghazaly
Published June 17, 2026

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Lionel Messi launched Argentina’s World Cup title defence in emphatic fashion, scoring a hat-trick in a 3-0 win over Algeria in the opening round of Group J, while Jordan’s first match in the group ended in a 3-1 defeat to Austria.

Argentina sent an early warning to their rivals as Messi scored all three goals against Algeria, giving the defending champions a perfect start to their campaign. Reuters reported that Messi’s hat-trick also moved him level with Germany’s Miroslav Klose on 16 goals, tying the men’s all-time World Cup scoring record.

For Algeria, the opening test could hardly have been tougher. Facing the world champions and one of football’s greatest players, the North African side left the match without points but not without a path back into the group. Their next game against Jordan on June 22 now becomes a crucial Arab clash, with both teams needing a result to keep their hopes alive.

In the other Group J match, Austria marked their return to the World Cup after a 28-year absence with a tense 3-1 victory over debutants Jordan. Romano Schmid opened the scoring for Austria in the 21st minute, before Ali Olwan equalized for Jordan early in the second half. The match turned late, with a Yazan Al Arab own goal and a Marko Arnautovic penalty deep into stoppage time giving Austria all three points.

Despite the defeat, Jordan showed energy and ambition in their first World Cup appearance, troubling Austria with quick transitions and a spirited second-half response. Reuters quoted Austria coach Ralf Rangnick praising the quality of the World Cup’s debutants after a match in which his team “rode their luck” at times before sealing victory late.

After the first round of matches, Argentina and Austria sit on three points each, while Algeria and Jordan remain without points. The next Group J fixtures on June 22 will carry major weight: Argentina face Austria in a battle for early control of the group, while Algeria meet Jordan in a decisive match for both Arab teams.

The opening picture in Group J is clear: Argentina started strongly through another historic Messi night, Austria grabbed a valuable win, and Algeria and Jordan now face immediate pressure to respond before the group begins to slip away.