World Cup Kickoff & Algeria’s Group J: The 2026 FIFA World Cup starts Thursday in Mexico City with Mexico vs South Africa, and Algeria’s campaign begins in Kansas City against defending champions Argentina on June 17 (Group J). Messi Returns, Algeria Awaits: Argentina’s warm-up vs Iceland ended 3-0, with Lionel Messi scoring from the spot after returning from injury, setting the tone for the opener against Algeria. FIFA Ticket Price Backlash: FIFA president Gianni Infantino defended record ticket prices, saying fans “should chill” amid criticism and off-field travel/entry disputes involving officials. Security Lapse: A data leak reportedly exposed Argentina players’ passport details on a team sheet ahead of the Iceland friendly, raising fresh concerns about tournament preparations. Algeria in the Energy Race: SONATRACH has broken ground on Algeria’s segment of the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline, linking Nigeria-to-Europe via Algeria and Niger, while ALNAFT prepares a new 2026 hydrocarbon bidding round. EU Aviation Update: The EU Air Safety List added Air Express Algeria to its banned carriers list, while removing Kyrgyz airlines after safety improvements. Local World Cup Logistics: Kansas City hospitals say they’re ready for international visitors, but worry about how hard it will be for patients to navigate the U.S. healthcare system.