World Cup Semifinal Focus: Lionel Messi finally faces England in the World Cup semifinal in Atlanta, with Argentina reaching the last four after a 3-1 extra-time win over Switzerland as Julián Alvarez struck in the 112th minute; England counters after a comeback win over Norway, setting up a historic rivalry moment for the final spot. VAR Controversy Backdrop: Ahead of the clash, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni dismissed “VAR-gentina” claims as social media noise, while fans keep debating whether officiating decisions are truly understood or consistently trusted. Algeria in the Tournament Story: Messi’s 200th cap came in Argentina’s group win over Algeria, keeping Algeria’s World Cup run tied to the wider semifinal narrative. Sports Beyond Football: Algeria also shows up in regional sport with Bahrain admitted to the Arab Hockey Federation and Bahrain’s senior men’s 3x3 team set for the Algiers Lite Quest. Road Safety: In southern Algeria, a bus crash in Tamanrasset killed five and injured 14, blamed on human factors and road conditions. Visa Rules for Algerians: Algeria’s visa-free access list for select African countries in 2026 was published, while other nationals still face standard visa requirements.