The fixture marks Argentina's first Group J match as the reigning champion after winning the country's third World Cup in 2022. Messi is lined up for a sixth World Cup appearance, while De Paul returns for his second after playing a key role in Argentina's 2022 run.
Argentina and Algeria have met once before, with La Albiceleste winning 4-2 in a 2007 friendly at Camp Nou in Barcelona. That match saw Messi score his first international brace for Argentina.
Argentina enters its 19th World Cup and 14th consecutive tournament after topping CONMEBOL qualifying with 38 points on a 12-2-4 record. Algeria opens its fifth World Cup and first since 2014 after finishing first in CAF Group G qualifying with 25 points and an 8-1-1 mark.
