2026 World Cup's biggest stars take the field as Lional Messi's Argentina and Kylian Mbappe's France debut (opens original article in a new tab)

The 2026 World Cup group stage begins with Argentina and France featuring key players like Messi and Mbappe, as both teams aim to perform well in their respective groups.

• Lionel Messi's Argentina and Kylian Mbappe's France are set to debut in the 2026 World Cup group stage
• Messi faces challenges adapting to new teammates and higher competition in the World Cup
• Mbappe is focusing on improving his defensive contributions for the French team
• France's Group I match against Senegal is a rematch of the 2002 World Cup opener