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