Argentina at the World Cup 2026 | Squad, Fixtures & Odds

World Cup 2026 group and fixtures

Argentina were drawn into Group J at World Cup 2026 alongside Algeria, Austria and Jordan. The opener against Algeria at Arrowhead Stadium on 16 June is the first competitive meeting between those two nations; the Austria game six days later in Arlington is Ralf Rangnick’s high-press test; the Jordan match closes the group at the same Texas venue. Top two and the eight best third-placed sides advance under the 48-team format — Argentina are heavy favourites to win it.

Argentina World Cup 2026 squad

The squad below reflects Scaloni’s selection for the March 2026 friendlies against Mauritania and Zambia. Lautaro Martínez missed those games with a calf strain but is expected back. Almost the entire Qatar 2022 spine returns: Emiliano Martínez in goal; Romero, Otamendi, Tagliafico and Molina behind a midfield three of De Paul, Enzo Fernández and Mac Allister; Messi, Lautaro and Álvarez ahead of them. The final 26-man tournament squad will be confirmed in May 2026.

Goalkeepers (provisional, as of March 2026)

Defenders (provisional, as of March 2026)

Midfielders (provisional, as of March 2026)

Forwards (provisional, as of March 2026)

How Argentina will play

Scaloni’s default is a 4-3-3 with the Qatar 2022 midfield three — De Paul, Enzo Fernández and Mac Allister — protecting a back four of Molina, Romero, Otamendi and Tagliafico. Messi takes the right-sided forward role with licence to drift inside, Álvarez plays the central striker, Lautaro Martínez the left. In tighter games Scaloni shifts to a 4-4-2 diamond with Messi at the tip, or a 4-2-3-1 that frees Messi as a true No 10 behind a single striker.

The strength is squad depth and continuity. Argentina return as champions with most of the side that beat France in Qatar still in form: Dibu Martínez remains an elite shoot-out goalkeeper, Romero is one of Europe’s best defenders at Tottenham, and the forward pool — Messi, Lautaro, Álvarez, Mastantuono, Nico Paz, Simeone — is arguably the world’s deepest. The qualifying campaign produced 31 goals in 18 matches and an 18-month unbeaten home run.

The weakness is age in the spine. Messi is 38, Otamendi is 38, and Di María has retired. The midfield press can be exposed by high-energy opponents — Argentina lost qualifiers to Uruguay and Colombia when out-run in central areas, and that is exactly the dynamic Austria’s gegenpress will try to recreate on 22 June. The Austria match is the one realistic threat to Argentina topping the group.

Predicted XI (4-3-3)

Predicted starting XI — 4-3-3. Captain: Lionel Messi.

Manager: Lionel Scaloni

Scaloni took the Argentina job on an interim basis in August 2018, was made permanent that November, and has now been in post for the entire seven-year cycle that produced the 2021 Copa América, 2022 World Cup and 2024 Copa América. His record reads four major-tournament finals, three trophies and zero losses in any final. AFA extended his contract through to the 2026 World Cup in February 2023. He is comfortably the most successful Argentina manager since Carlos Bilardo.

Captain: Lionel Messi

Messi captains Argentina from the right-sided forward position at Inter Miami, where he moved from PSG in July 2023. The 2022 World Cup-winning captain, eight-time Ballon d’Or winner and Argentina’s all-time top scorer was the country’s leading marksman in CONMEBOL qualifying with eight goals — at 38, in what is almost certainly his sixth and final World Cup. If he plays a single minute he extends his own record for World Cup appearances by an outfield player.

Argentina players to watch at World Cup 2026

Lionel Messi — Forward / captain, Inter Miami

The Albiceleste captain and 2022 World Cup winner enters his sixth and almost certainly final tournament at 38. Topped the qualifying scoring chart with 8 goals — a name to watch in the Golden Boot market if you fancy a sentimental punt. Still the gravitational centre of everything Scaloni’s side does.

Lautaro Martínez — Striker, Inter Milan

Argentina’s joint-top scorer at Qatar 2022 and the team’s most clinical penalty-box finisher. Missed the March 2026 friendlies with a calf strain but expected back to start the Algeria opener if fit. The most likely Argentine in the Golden Boot frame after Messi.

Julián Álvarez — Striker, Atlético Madrid

Atlético’s prolific No 9 has been one of Europe’s most reliable forwards since his 2024 move from Manchester City. Scored four goals in Qatar and now offers Scaloni either a partner alongside Lautaro in a front two or a like-for-like replacement when rotation is needed.

Alexis Mac Allister — Central midfielder, Liverpool

The most complete midfielder in the squad and Liverpool’s metronome. Scored in the 2022 final against France and remains the player who balances the Argentine midfield, drifting between defensive cover and late-runner box arrivals.

Emiliano Martínez — Goalkeeper, Aston Villa

The Qatar 2022 Golden Glove winner and shoot-out specialist who saved Kolo Muani’s late header in the final. Argentina’s penalty insurance policy if any knockout tie goes the distance again — and his recent Aston Villa form suggests no decline.

How Argentina qualified for World Cup 2026

Argentina topped the 10-team CONMEBOL round-robin with 38 points from 18 matches, finishing clear of Uruguay and Brazil. They scored 31 and conceded 10 across the campaign, with Lionel Messi the leading scorer on eight goals. The headline result was a 6-0 home win over Bolivia in October 2024, sealed by a Messi hat-trick.

The campaign wasn’t flawless — Uruguay won 2-0 in Buenos Aires in November 2023 (Araújo and Núñez), and Colombia took Argentina down 2-1 in Barranquilla the following September. Both defeats followed the same pattern: the central midfield got out-run, and Argentina were left exposed on transition. Otherwise, this was the most-controlled Argentine qualifying performance of the modern era.

Argentina’s World Cup history

Argentina are one of football’s most decorated international sides — three World Cup titles (1978, 1986, 2022), three runner-up finishes (1930, 1990, 2014) and a 19th appearance in 2026 ranks them among the four most-successful nations the tournament has ever produced. The 1978 title at home and the 1986 win in Mexico were Maradona’s coronation moments; the 2022 success in Qatar was Messi’s.

Two moments still tower over the lot. In 1986’s Mexico City quarter-final against England, Diego Maradona produced the two most-replayed goals in World Cup history four minutes apart — the ‘Hand of God’ fist-punch past Peter Shilton, then a 60-yard solo run past five England players. In 2022 it was Messi’s turn: 3-3 against France after extra time, Argentina won 4-2 on penalties, Messi scored twice and Dibu Martínez saved decisively. Argentina’s third world title and the fairytale ending to a 16-year wait.

Argentina’s recent form

Last five senior internationals (most recent first):

• 31 Mar 2026 — Zambia — 5-0 W — Friendly (La Bombonera)
• 27 Mar 2026 — Mauritania — 2-1 W — Friendly
• 14 Nov 2025 — Angola — 2-0 W — Friendly
• 14 Oct 2025 — Puerto Rico — 6-0 W — Friendly
• 10 Oct 2025 — Venezuela — 1-0 W — Friendly

Five wins from five, twelve goals scored and just one conceded. Scaloni has used the post-qualifying window to bed in younger options (Mastantuono, Nico Paz, Prestianni) without disturbing the Qatar core.

Argentina World Cup 2026 odds

Argentina sit at 8/1 with bet365 to retain the World Cup — second-favourites in the World Cup winner odds behind France, and the second-shortest priced of the established powers. Group J is essentially a coronation: 2/7 to top it, 1/40 to qualify, 9/4 to reach the semi-final and 9/2 to reach the final. The interesting market for Argentina punters is the long route — at 8/1 the back-to-back champion play is priced as a clear value angle if you back Scaloni’s tournament management.

Odds correct as of 30 April 2026 and subject to change. For the full World Cup 2026 outright market, group winners and golden-boot specials, see our World Cup 2026 betting hub.

Head-to-head record

Argentina vs Algeria

Just one previous senior meeting: a 4-3 friendly win for Argentina in Barcelona on 5 June 2007, with Lionel Messi scoring twice. The two nations have never faced one another in a competitive fixture, which makes the 16 June 2026 opener in Kansas City Argentina’s first competitive Algeria test in their history.

Argentina vs Austria

Two senior meetings, both friendlies in Vienna: a 5-1 Argentina win in May 1980 and a 1-1 draw a decade later in May 1990. Never before in a competitive fixture. The 22 June 2026 group game in Arlington is the first competitive Austria match Argentina have ever played.

Argentina vs Jordan

The first-ever senior meeting between the two nations. Jordan are tournament debutants; Argentina the reigning world champions. The market reflects the gap: Argentina are odds-on by a distance to win in Arlington on 27 June.

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