Will the Argentina 2026 World Cup team defend its 2022 World Cup record? La Abiceleste are already showing great potential to win again. Having played the group stages and round of 32, winning all the matches, they are possibly going to win again. The team led by the legendary captain, Lionel Messi, has talented players who can fight to the World Cup finals.
SportPesa gives you the full Argentina 2026 World Cup schedule, results, stats, and standings. Having beaten Cape Verde in the round of 32, Argentina have the chance to face Egypt in the round of 16, at the Atlanta Stadium, in the United States. Stay tuned to the SportPesa news to get all the World Cup news as they unfold.
Profile overview
| Category | Details |
| Team | Argentina |
| Nickname | La Albiceleste (The White and Sky Blue) |
| Confederation | CONMEBOL (South America) |
| FIFA World Cup Appearances | 19th |
| World Cup Debut | 1930 |
| FIFA World Cup Titles | 3 (1978, 1986, 2022) |
| Best World Cup Finish | Champions |
| Defending Champions | Yes |
| FIFA Ranking (Pre-Tournament) | No. 1 |
| Head Coach | Lionel Scaloni |
| Captain | Lionel Messi |
| Football Association | Argentine Football Association (AFA) |
| Home Stadium | Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires |
| World Cup 2026 Group | Group J |
| Group Opponents | Algeria, Austria, Jordan |
| Group Stage Finish | 1st Place |
| Group Stage Record | 3 Wins, 0 Draws, 0 Losses |
| Goals Scored (Group Stage) | 9 |
| Goals Conceded (Group Stage) | 2 |
| Group Stage Goal Difference | +7 |
| Group Stage Points | 9 |
| Round of 32 Opponent | Cape Verde |
| Round of 32 Result | Argentina 3–2 Cape Verde (After Extra Time) |
| Current Tournament Stage | Round of 16 |
| Round of 16 Opponent | Egypt |
| Overall Tournament Record | Played: 4 • Won: 4 • Drawn: 0 • Lost: 0 |
| Overall Goals Scored | 12 |
| Overall Goals Conceded | 4 |
| Overall Goal Difference | +8 |
| Playing Style | Possession-based football, aggressive pressing, quick transitions, and attacking creativity |
| Key Players | Lionel Messi, Julián Álvarez, Lautaro Martínez, Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister, Rodrigo De Paul, Cristian Romero, Emiliano Martínez |
| Strengths | Elite attacking quality, experienced squad, tactical flexibility, midfield control, and defensive resilience |
| Tournament Objective | Retain the FIFA World Cup title |
| Current Status | Qualified for the Round of 16 after defeating Cape Verde 3–2 after extra time in the Round of 32. |
A brief history of the Argentina National football team
The Argentina National team played their first official match against Uruguay, on May 16, 1901, at the Paso del Molino, with Argentina winning 6 – 0. In 1930, Argentina reached the first FIFA World Cup final and finished runners-up after losing 4–2 to Uruguay. In 1978, the team won its first World Cup after defeating the Netherlands 3 -1 in Buenos Aires. In 1986, under the lead of Diego Maradona, the team secured its second World Cup win by beating Germany 3- 2 in the finals. In 2022, Lionel Messi made history after he captained the team to win the third World Cup in penalties against France after a tactical 3-3 draw.
Argentina’s road to the FIFA World Cup 2026
Under the leadership of the head coach Lionel Scaloni, the Argentina national team qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup tournament after topping the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers. Their journey began with Rafael Santos Borre, scoring their first goal against Venezuela and went on to play 18 matches, collecting a total of 38 points. These results gave them a chance to proceed to the one World Cup in one of the six automatic spots.
Argentina World Cup 2026 Group
The Argentina FIFA World Cup 2026 has been played in group J alongside Jordan, Algeria and Austria. Here, the four teams put up a fight for the round of 32 qualifications, since only two teams and possibly the third team are set to proceed. Three teams qualified for the round of 32 with Argentina making it as the group winner, Austria the group runners up while Algeria made it in the position of the eight best positions of three teams. The white and sky blue performed well in the group stages by winning all their matches.
Group overview
| Category | Details |
| Group | Group J |
| Confederation | CONMEBOL |
| Group Position | 1st (Group Winners) |
| Qualified for Knockout Stage | Yes |
| Group Winner | Argentina |
| Other Teams in Group | Austria, Algeria, Jordan |
| Matches Played | 3 |
| Wins | 3 |
| Draws | 0 |
| Losses | 0 |
| Goals Scored | 8 |
| Goals Conceded | 1 |
| Goal Difference | +7 |
| Points | 9 |
| Top Scorer | Lionel Messi (6 goals) |
| Clean Sheets | 2 |
| Biggest Victory | Argentina 3–0 Algeria |
| Closest Match | Argentina 2–0 Austria |
| Round of 32 Opponent | Cape Verde |
| Round of 32 Result | Won 3–2 (After Extra Time) |
| Current Tournament Stage | Round of 16 |
| Next Opponent | Egypt |
| Qualification Status | Advanced as Group J Winners |
Final Group Standings
The Argentina World Cup group table compares how the teams performed through the tournament’s group stages. The performance is given by analysing the games played, won, lost, drawn, and scorelines. Argentina are the winner in this group, having won all the games, hence collecting 9 points, followed by Austria with 4 points and zero goal difference, unlike Algeria, which has 4 points but a -2 goal difference. Below is a tabular representation of the Argentina World Cup standings.
| Pst | Team | M | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Argentina | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | +7 | 9 | Qualified for Round of 32 |
| 2 | Austria | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 4 | Qualified for Round of 32 |
| 3 | Algeria | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 7 | -2 | 4 | Qualified for Round of 32 |
| 4 | Jordan | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 8 | -5 | 0 | Eliminated |
Argentina World Cup 2026 fixtures
Fans are able to tell the upcoming matches by reviewing the Argentina World Cup schedule on SportPesa. Here we compile the match dates, kickoff time, venues and the opponents. On the World Cup updates, Argentina vs Egypt is the awaited game for the round of 16. The table below represents the Argentina 2026 World Cup fixtures.
| Date | Stage | Opponent | Result | Score | Venue |
| 7 July 2026 | Round of 16 | Egypt | Scheduled | — | AT&T Stadium, Arlington, USA |
Argentina World Cup 2026 results
The Argentina World Cup results track the team’s performance throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Argentina has already played the group and round of 32 matches, winning all of them. The table below provides all of Argentina’s results in the FIFA World Cup.
| Match | Score | Status | Venue | Date |
| Argentina vs Algeria | 3–0 | Win | Estadio BBVA, Monterrey, México | 16 June 2026 |
| Argentina vs Austria | 2–0 | Win | Estadio Akron, Guadalajara, México | 21 June 2026 |
| Jordan vs Argentina | 1–3 | Win | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico | 26 June 2026 |
| Argentina vs Cape Verde | 3–2 | Win | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, USA | 3 July 2026 |
Argentina World Cup 2026 squad
The Argentina World Cup squad 2026 has 26 talented players led by Leonel Messi, the team’s Captain. La Albiceleste’s notable players include Messi, Julian Alvarez, Enzo Fernández, Emiliano Martinez, Alexis Mac Allister, and Lautaro Martinez. With the players’ experience and talent, Argentina has great chances of defending its title as the winners of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The tables below give the names, heights, weights, positions, and other data relating to Argentina’s players.
The Argentina World Cup 2026 Goalkeepers
Below is a table representing Argentina’s goalkeepers.
| Name | POS | Age | HT | WT(lbs) | NAT | APP | SUB | SV | GA | A | FC | FA | YC | RC |
| Juan Musso | G | 32 | 6’3″ | 203 | ARG | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gerónimo Rulli | G | 34 | 6’2″ | 174 | ARG | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Emiliano Martínez | G | 33 | 6’5″ | 214 | ARG | 4 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Argentina World Cup 2026 Outfield Players
The table below represents Argentina’s defenders, midfielders, and forwards.
| Name | POS | Age | HT | WT(lbs) | NAT | APP | SUB | G | A | SHOT | SOG | FC | FA | YC | RC |
| Nicolás Tagliafico | D | 33 | 5’8″ | 141 | ARG | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Gonzalo Montiel | D | 29 | 5’9″ | 152 | ARG | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Lisandro Martínez | D | 28 | 5’9″ | 172 | ARG | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cristian Romero | D | 28 | 6’1″ | 172 | ARG | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Nicolás Otamendi | D | 38 | 6’0″ | 183 | ARG | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Facundo Medina | D | 27 | 6’0″ | 172 | ARG | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Nahuel Molina | D | 28 | 5’9″ | 152 | ARG | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Leandro Paredes | M | 32 | 5’11” | 161 | ARG | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Rodrigo De Paul | M | 32 | 5’11” | 161 | ARG | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Valentín Barco | M | 21 | 5’7″ | 148 | ARG | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Giovani Lo Celso | M | 30 | 5’10” | 150 | ARG | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Exequiel Palacios | M | 27 | 5’9″ | 159 | ARG | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Thiago Almada | M | 25 | 5’7″ | 139 | ARG | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Nico Paz | M | 21 | 6’1″ | 172 | ARG | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Alexis Mac Allister | M | 27 | 5’9″ | 163 | ARG | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Enzo Fernández | M | 25 | 5’10” | 161 | ARG | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Julián Álvarez | F | 26 | 5’7″ | 157 | ARG | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Lionel Messi | F | 39 | 5’7″ | 148 | ARG | 4 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 24 | 15 | 2 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Nico González | F | 28 | 5’11” | 170 | ARG | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Giuliano Simeone | F | 23 | 5’8″ | 163 | ARG | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| José Manuel López | F | 25 | 6’3″ | 170 | ARG | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Lautaro Martínez | F | 28 | 5’9″ | 152 | ARG | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Abbreviations
Here are the meanings of all the abbreviations used in the players and goalkeepers tables above.
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
| POS | Position |
| HT | Height |
| WT | Weight |
| NAT | Nationality |
| APP | Appearances |
| SUB | Substitute Appearances |
| G | Goals |
| A | Assists |
| SHOT | Total Shots |
| SOG | Shots on Goal |
| FC | Fouls Committed |
| FA | Fouls Suffered |
| YC | Yellow Cards |
| RC | Red Cards |
| SV | Saves |
| GA | Goals Against |
Argentina technical bench
The Argentina National team coaching staff is under the head coach Lionel Scaloni. He is helped to manage and train the team by Pablo Aimar, Roberto Ayala and Walter Samuel. The table below represents the team’s technical bench, including their age, experience, nationality and various positions in the team.
| Name | Position | Age | Years of Experience | Nationality |
| Lionel Scaloni | Head Coach | 48 | 13 | Argentina |
| Pablo Aimar | Assistant Coach | 46 | 14 | Argentina |
| Walter Samuel | Assistant Coach | 48 | 11 | Argentina |
| Roberto Ayala | Assistant Coach | 53 | 15 | Argentina |
| Martín Tocalli | Goalkeeping Coach | 51 | 20 | Argentina |
| Luis Martín | Head Physical Trainer | 47 | 22 | Argentina |
| Matías Manna | Tactical Analyst / Video Analyst | 41 | 14 | Argentina |
| Rodrigo Barrios | Fitness Coach | 44 | 18 | Argentina |
| Daniel Martínez | Team Doctor | 57 | 28 | Argentina |
| Fernando Signorini | High-Performance Consultant | 75 | 45+ | Argentina |
| Claudio Tapia | AFA President | 57 | 20 | Argentina |
| Bernardo Romeo | National Team Coordinator | 48 | 11 | Argentina |
Argentina team statistics
The Argentina national team, under Scaloni, has a 77% win rate. The team led by the hero Messi has won all the games played in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Their recent win was a 3-2 win against Cape Verde in the round of 32. Lionel Messi is rated as the top goal scorer with 124 goals and 203 caps. The team’s biggest win was in 1942, when they won 12 – 0 against Ecuador. The table below represents the Argentina World Cup Stats.
| Category | Statistic | Value |
| Tournament Record | Current Stage | Round of 16 |
| Matches Played | 4 | |
| Wins | 4 | |
| Draws | 0 | |
| Losses | 0 | |
| Win Percentage | 100% | |
| Goals Scored | 11 | |
| Goals Conceded | 3 | |
| Goal Difference | +8 | |
| Clean Sheets | 2 | |
| Group Stage | Group | J |
| Final Position | 1st | |
| Points | 9 | |
| Qualification | Qualified as Group Winners | |
| Match Performance | Highest Goals Scored (Home) | 3 (vs Algeria) |
| Highest Goals Scored (Away) | 3 (vs Jordan) | |
| Most Goals Conceded (Home) | 2 (vs Cape Verde) | |
| Most Goals Conceded (Away) | 1 (vs Jordan) | |
| Biggest Winning Margin | 3 Goals (3–0 vs Algeria) | |
| Streaks | Longest Winning Streak | 4 Matches |
| Current Winning Streak | 4 Matches | |
| Longest Unbeaten Run | 4 Matches | |
| Current Unbeaten Run | 4 Matches | |
| Longest Losing Streak | 0 | |
| Current Losing Streak | 0 | |
| Longest Winless Run | 0 | |
| Current Winless Run | 0 | |
| Discipline | Yellow Cards | 3 |
| Red Cards | 0 | |
| Most Yellow Cards | Leandro Paredes, Facundo Medina & Gonzalo Montiel (1 each) | |
| Players Sent Off | None | |
| Attendance | Largest Attendance | 70,649 (vs Austria – 22 June 2026) |
| Lowest Attendance | 64,478 (vs Cape Verde – 4 July 2026) | |
| Average Attendance | 68,057 | |
| Total Attendance | 204,172 | |
| Top Performers | Top Scorer | Lionel Messi (7 Goals) |
| Most Assists | Lisandro Martínez, Facundo Medina, Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister & Nico González (1 each) | |
| Goalkeeper | Emiliano Martínez (4 Apps, 4 Saves, 3 Goals Conceded) | |
| Overall Performance | Overall Record | 4 Wins from 4 Matches |
| Current Status | Qualified for the Round of 16 | |
| Next Opponent | Egypt | |
| Tournament Objective | Defend FIFA World Cup title |
Argentina World Cup 2026 news
The Argentina National team is constantly making headlines in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Through its magical play tactics and winning all the matches, the team stakes a higher probability of winning the tournaments this year. Having qualified for the round of 16, Argentina’s next match is set to be played against Egypt at AT&T Stadium, Arlington, USA.
Stay tuned for the SportPesa updates for all World Cup updates as they unfold.
FAQs about Argentina World Cup 2026
Who is Argentina’s head coach?
Argentina’s head coach is Lionel Scaloni, who has been managing the club since 2018.
Where can I find official stats and match trackers?
To get the recent stats and match trackers for the FIFA World Cup, stay tuned on the SportPesa blog page or download the SP Score app.
Where is Argentina playing their World Cup matches?
The Argentina team, like other teams in the 2026 World Cup, will play their matches across major stadiums in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
Who are Argentina’s top scorers at the 2026 World Cup?
Argentina’s top scorer is Lionel Messi with a total of 7 goals in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Conclusion
The Argentina 2026 World Cup team has proven its ability to carry the trophy. Having won the round of 32, Argentina is set to face Egypt in the round of 16 and possibly proceed to the quarter finals. Don’t miss any World Cup update, stay tuned on SportPesa for the live scores, fixtures, results, squad updates and team & player stats.
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