Argentina will open their World Cup campaign against Algeria in a late-night fixture that promises to capture global attention. Scheduled for 2 a.m. in the United Kingdom, the match marks the reigning champions’ first appearance of the tournament.
The 2026 World Cup is expected to be the final opportunity for Argentina captain Lionel Messi to perform on football’s grandest stage. His mission is clear but far from simple — to guide his team to yet another world title. This pursuit begins in Kansas City, where the South American giants face a determined Algerian side eager to create an upset.
Algeria will no doubt aim to challenge Argentina’s dominance, but a key question for fans is: who has been appointed to officiate this crucial Group J encounter?
The opening group fixture at Arrowhead Stadium will be overseen by one of FIFA’s most seasoned and respected referees, Szymon Marciniak of Poland.
Marciniak, aged 45, has been a FIFA-listed referee since 2011 and is participating in his third consecutive World Cup, having first appeared in Russia in 2018. He is well known to Messi and the Argentine squad, having officiated their matches in previous tournaments.
In 2018, Marciniak took charge of Argentina’s group stage draw against Iceland. Four years later in Qatar, he refereed their Round of 16 victory over Australia in Al Rayyan. He was then entrusted with the ultimate honour — officiating the 2022 World Cup final, where Argentina defeated France and Messi lifted the trophy.
Beyond the World Cup, Marciniak is a familiar face in UEFA competitions. During the 2025–26 Champions League group stage, he officiated four matches, issuing 12 yellow cards and awarding one penalty. He also refereed the 2022–23 Champions League final in Istanbul, where Manchester City triumphed over Inter Milan.
Across his career, Marciniak has taken charge of 78 matches in the Champions League and Europa League, during which he has shown 18 red cards.
Assisting Marciniak in Kansas City will be fellow Polish officials Tomasz Listkiewicz and Adam Kupsik. New Zealand’s Campbell-Kirk Kawana-Waugh has been appointed as the fourth official for the match.
