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Argentina World Cup 2026 Odds, Squad & Fixtures

Last updated: · By Anthony Colwell
Argentina arrive at World Cup 2026 as reigning champions, with Lionel Messi expected to play in his sixth and almost certainly final tournament at 38. Lionel Scaloni's squad keeps the Qatar 2022 spine intact — Dibu Martínez behind, Romero and Otamendi in front of him, Mac Allister and Enzo through the middle, Lautaro Martínez and Julián Álvarez up top. They open against Algeria in Kansas City on 16 June.
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Argentina World Cup 2026 key facts & odds

Confederation CONMEBOL
First WC appearance 1930
WC appearances 19th (2026)
Best WC finish Winners (1978, 1986, 2022)
WC titles 3
Manager Lionel Scaloni
Captain Lionel Messi
Group J — Algeria, Austria, Jordan
Outright odds 8/1
To win Group J 2/5 (favourites)
Status Group stage — won opener 3-0 v Algeria

Argentina World Cup 2026 betting odds

Argentina are 8/1 to retain the World Cup, among the leading contenders in our World Cup winner odds guide. The reigning champions opened with a statement 3-0 win over Algeria, Lionel Messi marking his 200th cap with a hat-trick to equal Miroslav Klose’s all-time World Cup goals record — and the price on a fourth star has only shortened.

Market Best price Bookmaker
To win World Cup 2026 8/1 Bet365
To win Group J 2/5 Sky Bet

Argentina to win the World Cup 2026 outright

At 8/1 Argentina sit among the top three in the outright market alongside Spain and France. With Messi in this kind of form and the spine of the 2022-winning side intact, Scaloni’s champions are a genuine threat to go all the way again.

Argentina to win Group J odds

Argentina are strong 2/5 favourites to win Group J and, after the opening win, are all but certain of top spot. Austria’s win over Jordan makes them the likeliest challengers.

Team To win Group J Bookmaker
Argentina 2/5 Sky Bet
Austria 4/1 Paddy Power
Algeria 10/1 Coral
Jordan 84/1 Ladbrokes

Argentina to qualify from Group J odds

Qualification is a formality after the opening win — Argentina are as short as 1/100 to reach the Round of 32, with games against Austria and Jordan to come. The only question is whether Scaloni rests players once top spot is secured.

Market Best price Bookmaker
To qualify from Group J 1/100 Paddy Power

Argentina stage of elimination odds

The market expects Argentina to go deep, with the semi-finals and final the rounds where the value lies for the holders. After the Algeria win they remain joint-third favourites for the title behind Spain and France.

Argentina top scorer odds

Messi is now the Golden Boot favourite at around 5/2 after his hat-trick against Algeria, having equalled Klose’s record of 16 World Cup goals. Lautaro Martínez and Julián Álvarez are the alternative threats from a stacked attack.

Odds correct as of 17 June 2026 and subject to change — always confirm the live price before betting. For the full outright market, group winners and golden-boot specials, see our World Cup 2026 betting hub.

World Cup 2026 group and fixtures

Reigning champions Argentina are in Group J at the World Cup with Algeria, Austria and Jordan. Lionel Scaloni’s side began the defence of their title with a commanding 3-0 win over Algeria and sit top of the group. With the top two and the eight best third-placed sides advancing under the 48-team format, top spot is the only realistic question.

Date Match Venue Kick-off (UK) Result
16 Jun 2026 Argentina vs Algeria Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City 21:00 BST 3-0 W
22 Jun 2026 Argentina vs Austria AT&T Stadium, Arlington 21:00 BST
27 Jun 2026 Argentina vs Jordan AT&T Stadium, Arlington 21:00 BST

Group J standings

Team P W D L GD Pts
Argentina 1 1 0 0 +3 3
Austria 1 1 0 0 +2 3
Jordan 1 0 0 1 -2 0
Algeria 1 0 0 1 -3 0

Standings as of 17 June 2026 — after Matchday 1 (Argentina 3-0 Algeria, Austria 3-1 Jordan). Top two plus the eight best third-placed sides reach the Round of 32.

Argentina World Cup 2026 squad

Scaloni kept faith with the core of the 2022-winning side — Emiliano Martínez in goal, the Cristian Romero–Lisandro Martínez axis at the back, Enzo Fernández and Alexis Mac Allister in midfield, and Messi pulling the strings ahead of Lautaro Martínez and Julián Álvarez.

Team news: Messi came through the opener fully fit after his hat-trick; Scaloni may rotate once qualification is secured. The numbers below are the confirmed FIFA squad list.

Goalkeepers

No. Player
1 Juan Musso
12 Gerónimo Rulli
23 Emiliano Martínez

Defenders

No. Player
2 Marcos Senesi
3 Nicolás Tagliafico
4 Gonzalo Montiel
6 Lisandro Martínez
8 Valentín Barco
13 Cristian Romero
19 Nicolás Otamendi
25 Facundo Medina
26 Nahuel Molina

Midfielders

No. Player
5 Leandro Paredes
7 Rodrigo De Paul
11 Giovani Lo Celso
14 Exequiel Palacios
15 Nico González
20 Alexis Mac Allister
24 Enzo Fernández

Forwards

No. Player
9 Julián Álvarez
10 Lionel Messi (c)
16 Thiago Almada
17 Giuliano Simeone
18 Nico Paz
21 José Manuel López
22 Lautaro Martínez

How Argentina will play

Scaloni sets Argentina up in a balanced 4-3-3, with De Paul, Fernández and Mac Allister controlling midfield and Messi drifting in off the right to orchestrate. Against Algeria it was ruthless — Messi’s movement and finishing unpicked a side that had no answer to the champions’ quality.

Predicted XI (4-3-3)

Argentina predicted XI for World Cup 2026 in a 4-3-3 formation

Predicted starting XI — 4-3-3, based on the side that beat Algeria. Captain: Lionel Messi.

Manager: Lionel Scaloni

The mastermind of Argentina’s 2022 triumph and the 2021 and 2024 Copa América titles, Scaloni has built the most successful era in the country’s modern history. Calm, meticulous and trusted by his players, he has the champions purring again at the start of their defence.

Captain: Lionel Messi

The greatest player of his generation, captaining Argentina at what is surely his final World Cup. His hat-trick against Algeria took him level with Klose’s all-time record of 16 World Cup goals — and he remains the man every defence fears.

Argentina players to watch at World Cup 2026

Lionel Messi — Forward

Captain, talisman and now Golden Boot favourite after his hat-trick. Everything Argentina do in the final third runs through him.

Lautaro Martínez — Forward

The Inter striker leads the line and offers the focal point and movement that frees Messi to create. A reliable scorer at the highest level.

Enzo Fernández — Midfielder

The Chelsea midfielder is the engine of the side, dictating tempo and protecting the back four — central to how Argentina control games.

How Argentina qualified for World Cup 2026

Argentina topped the CONMEBOL qualifying table comfortably to reach a 19th World Cup, continuing the momentum of their 2022 triumph and back-to-back Copa América wins.

Argentina’s World Cup history

Three-time world champions — 1978, 1986 and 2022 — Argentina are one of the most successful nations in the tournament’s history. The Qatar 2022 win, sealed on penalties against France, crowned Messi’s career and set up this title defence.

Head-to-head record

Argentina vs Algeria

The 3-0 win in Kansas City was the headline result of Matchday 1 — Messi’s hat-trick against an Algeria side that surprisingly left out Mahrez and Amoura left no doubt about the gulf in class.

Argentina vs Austria

Argentina meet Austria in Arlington in what is effectively a top-of-the-group decider after both won their openers.

Argentina vs Jordan

Argentina close the group against debutants Jordan, a game they will be overwhelming favourites to win.

Responsible gambling

Odds in this article are correct at the time of writing and are subject to change. Always check the latest prices on the bookmaker’s site before placing a bet.

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Frequently asked questions

Who is the Argentina captain at World Cup 2026?

Lionel Messi captains Argentina at World Cup 2026, having led them to the title in 2022.

Who is the Argentina manager?

Lionel Scaloni manages Argentina — the coach who masterminded the 2022 World Cup and 2021 and 2024 Copa América triumphs.

What group are Argentina in at World Cup 2026?

Argentina are in Group J with Algeria, Austria and Jordan. They won their opener 3-0 against Algeria.

What are Argentina's odds to win Group J?

Argentina are 2/5 favourites to win Group J as of 17 June 2026, and all but certain of top spot after their opening win.

How far will Argentina go at World Cup 2026?

Argentina are 8/1 joint-third favourites for the title and 1/100 to qualify from Group J; the market expects the holders to reach the latter stages, as of 17 June 2026.

What are Argentina's odds to win World Cup 2026?

Argentina are 8/1 to retain the World Cup as of 17 June 2026, among the leading contenders.

What did Lionel Messi do in Argentina's World Cup 2026 opener?

Messi scored a hat-trick in the 3-0 win over Algeria on his 200th cap, equalling Miroslav Klose’s all-time record of 16 World Cup goals.

The people behind this page

Compare.bet's online gambling content experts helped write, edit and check this page:

Anthony Colwell is the Site Lead and Editor at compare.bet, bringing over eight years of hands-on experience across the sports betting and online casino sectors. Having spent the last two years steering the editorial direction at compare.bet, Anthony knows exactly what players are looking for when choosing a new betting site or casino. His deep industry knowledge allows him to cut through the noise, providing readers with honest, expert insights they can trust.
When he’s not reviewing the latest sportsbook features or casino games, Anthony is a massive football fan and a lifelong Manchester United supporter. Away from the screen, you’ll usually find him out on the golf course trying to lower his handicap.