Argentina starts with a bang, France successfully seeks revenge, Jucom predicts and tracks market expectations throughout the event

On June 17, Beijing time, after the sixth match day of the 2026 World Cup, defending champion Argentina defeated Algeria 3-0 to achieve a winning start, with Messi scoring a hat-trick; France beat Senegal 3-1, successfully avenging a loss from 24 years ago. Strong teams like Portugal and England will take the stage tonight, and Jucom predicts that the market will continue to track changes in expectations for various matches.

Argentina 3-0 Algeria: Messi's Hat-Trick, Market Expectations Mostly Met

In the first round of Group J held in Kansas City, Argentina won decisively against Algeria with a score of 3-0. Messi was the absolute star of the match, breaking the deadlock in the 17th minute, scoring a rebound in the 60th minute, and completing his hat-trick in the 76th minute. This was Messi's 200th official match representing Argentina, and he celebrated this milestone with a perfect gift of a hat-trick.

Algeria was guarded by Luca Zidane, son of French legend Zinedine Zidane, who made several saves throughout the match but was unable to stop the in-form Messi. Post-match commentary from BBC noted that the 39-year-old Messi displayed an unexpected level of running and commitment during the match, showcasing the defending champion's strong determination to compete for the title under his leadership.

In the Jucom prediction market, pre-match data showed Argentina's probability of winning at 71%, while Algeria's upset probability was only 11%. The actual result was largely consistent with market pricing, as Argentina secured their first victory, and expectations surrounding Argentina's advancement from the group and championship probability are expected to remain stable.

France 3-1 Senegal: Mbappé's Brace, Revenge Script Unfolds as Expected

In another key match on the same day, France defeated Senegal 3-1. In the opening match of the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup, defending champion France lost 0-1 to World Cup debutant Senegal, marking the biggest upset in World Cup history. 24 years later, the two teams met again in their World Cup opener, and France successfully avenged that loss with a brace from Mbappé.

Mbappé scored two goals in this match, bringing his total World Cup goals to 14, ranking third in history, behind Miroslav Klose (16 goals) and Ronaldo (15 goals), while also surpassing Giroud with 58 goals to become France's all-time leading scorer.

Norway won 4-1 against Iraq in another match in the same group, with Haaland also scoring twice. Currently, Norway leads Group I on goal difference, with France in second place.

Portugal and England Take the Stage Tonight, Market Focuses on Multiple Matchups

From the evening of June 17 to the early morning of June 18, four group matches are about to take place:

• June 17, 21:00 (UTC+8): Portugal vs. Democratic Republic of the Congo (Group K)

• June 18, 00:00 (UTC+8): England vs. Croatia (Group L)

• June 18, 03:00 (UTC+8): Ghana vs. Panama

• June 18, 06:00 (UTC+8): Uzbekistan vs. Colombia

The matchup between England and Croatia is particularly noteworthy. The two teams met in the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup, where Croatia won 2-1 to advance to the final. In this rematch, Croatia faces serious aging issues, with 40-year-old Modrić still included in the squad, while England has narrowly won their last two encounters against Croatia by a single goal.

Market Repricing After Upsets, Jucom Continues to Track Changes in Match Expectations

Previously, Spain was held to a 0-0 draw by Cape Verde, overturning a pre-match expectation of a 92% win probability, leading to a sharp reevaluation in the prediction market. Meanwhile, both Argentina and France secured their first victories, validating the effectiveness of market pricing.

As strong teams like Portugal and England take the stage, the Jucom prediction market will continue to reflect the changes in expectations brought about by each match. On the pitch, the champion's fate will ultimately be revealed; in the Jucom prediction market, the expectations of global participants are being reshaped in real time after each match.