Argentina

Argentina will enter the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada as the reigning holders and looking to make history.

La Albiceleste could become only the third nation to defend the World Cup crown after Italy and Brazil.

Read on as we offer a comprehensive guide to Argentina at the FIFA World Cup this summer.

Argentina at the 2026 World Cup

• Group: J
• Manager: Lionel Scaloni
• Captain: Lionel Messi
• Best finish: Winners (1978, 1986, 2022)
• Next match: Argentina vs Algeria

Argentina have been drawn in Group J alongside Austria (FIFA-ranked 24th), Algeria (28th) and Jordan (63rd).

Despite four defeats, Scaloni’s side finished top of the CONMEBOL qualifying group and are heavily expected to progress from their World Cup section as winners.

However, La Albiceleste would be wise not to take anything for granted, with Austria and Algeria both seeking standout results in North America.

Despite languishing 21 places behind Argentina in FIFA’s rankings, Das Team head into the tournament in high spirits after a near-flawless qualifying journey.

While Austria’s best World Cup run came in 1954, when they finished third, Algeria’s only successful group-stage campaign dates back to 2014.

If the Argentines win the group, they will face the runner-up team from Group H in the round of 32.

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Argentina Squad

Player	Club	Position	Age	Caps	Goals
Juan Musso	Atletico Madrid	Goalkeeper	32	3	0
Geronimo Rulli	Marseille	Goalkeeper	34	7	0
Emiliano Martinez	Aston Villa	Goalkeeper	33	59	0
Leonardo Balerdi	Paris Saint-Germain	Defender	27	11	0
Nicolas Tagliafico	Lyon	Defender	33	75	1
Valentin Barco	Strasbourg	Defender	21	2	1
Gonzalo Montiel	River Plate	Defender	29	38	2
Lisandro Martinez	Manchester United	Defender	28	26	1
Cristian Romero	Tottenham Hotspur	Defender	28	49	3
Nicolas Otamendi	Benfica	Defender	38	130	8
Facundo Medina	Marseille	Defender	27	7	0
Nahuel Molina	Atletico Madrid	Defender	28	58	1
Leandro Paredes	Boca Juniors	Midfielder	31	77	5
Rodrigo De Paul	Inter Miami	Midfielder	32	85	2
Giovani Lo Celso	Real Betis	Midfielder	30	65	4
Exequiel Palacios	Bayer Leverkusen	Midfielder	27	38	0
Nico Paz	Como	Midfielder	21	8	1
Alexis Mac Allister	Liverpool	Midfielder	27	44	6
Enzo Fernandez	Chelsea	Midfielder	25	40	6
Julian Alvarez	Atletico Madrid	Forward	26	51	14
Lionel Messi	Inter Miami	Forward	38	198	116
Nicolas Gonzalez	Atletico Madrid	Forward	28	50	6
Thiago Almada	Atletico Madrid	Forward	25	14	4
Giuliano Simeone	Atletico Madrid	Forward	23	11	1
Jose Manuel Lopez	Palmeiras	Forward	25	3	0
Lautaro Martinez	Inter Milan	Forward	28	75	36

Strongest XI / Predicted Line-up

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Argentina Manager

Scaloni took charge of Argentina in 2018, replacing Jorge Sampaoli in the dugout, following La Albiceleste’s disappointing last-16 elimination.

Despite lacking experience in senior management, Scaloni ended Argentina’s title drought in 2021 by guiding the country to Copa America glory at the iconic Maracana Stadium, beating arch-rivals Brazil in the final.

However, his standout success came a year later. Argentina won their first World Cup trophy since Diego Maradona, overcoming France in a thrilling final in Qatar.

Reluctant to rest on his laurels, Scaloni helped his side defend their Copa America crown in 2024, setting them up perfectly for this summer’s tournament.

Tournament Stats

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Route to the Final

If Argentina win their group:

• Round of 32: Monday, July 3: Argentina vs Group H Runner-up
• Round of 16: Tuesday, July 7: Argentina vs Belgium
• Quarter-final: Saturday, July 11: Argentina vs Portugal
• Semi-final: Wednesday, July 15: Argentina vs Spain
• Final: Sunday, July 19: Argentina vs France

If Argentina are group runners-up:

• Round of 32: Thursday, July 2: Argentina vs Spain
• Round of 16: Monday, July 6: Argentina vs England
• Quarter-final: Friday, July 10: Argentina vs Belgium
• Semi-final: Tuesday, July 14: Argentina vs France
• Final: Sunday, July 19: Argentina vs Brazil

Key Players

Emiliano Martinez

Martinez emerged as one of the key figures in Argentina’s World Cup success four years ago. The 33-year-old has been one of the cornerstones of La Albiceleste’s renaissance under Scaloni.

He has been Scaloni’s starting goalkeeper in all four major international finals over the past five years, with Argentina winning each of those showpieces.

Cristian Romero

Despite facing the ominous prospect of suffering Premier League relegation with Tottenham Hotspur, Romero has been Argentina’s defensive mainstay in the Scaloni era.

His formidable defensive partnership with veteran star Nicolas Otamendi has provided the backbone for Argentina’s recent dominance on the international stage, with the duo combining aggression and composure in equal measure.

Rodrigo De Paul

De Paul left European football to join Lionel Messi at Inter Miami last summer, but his importance to this team has not dropped a bit, as the 31-year-old remains the beating heart of Scaloni’s midfield.

One would expect Premier League stars Enzo Fernandez or Alexis Mac Allister to steal the spotlight, yet De Paul’s tireless work rate and discipline continue to make him indispensable for the defending champions.

Julian Alvarez

With Angel Di Maria no longer in the picture, Scaloni needs an elite-quality player to replace the former Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain megastar, and Alvarez fits the profile.

At 26, the Atletico Madrid forward is at the peak of his powers, but it’ll be exciting to see if he can shoulder the responsibility on the grandest international stage.

Lionel Messi

One of the greatest players of all time will make his final World Cup appearance, looking to add another piece of silverware to his illustrious trophy cabinet.

Messi carried the burden of expectations in Qatar and excelled, winning the Golden Ball as he followed in Maradona’s footsteps.

Argentina Match Hub

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World Cup host cities & stadiums
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Argentina World Cup History

Argentina first tasted World Cup glory in 1978, lifting the trophy on home soil. Only eight years later, they replicated that success in Mexico, a tournament that cemented Maradona’s status as a mythical figure in world football.

While a return to Mexico may evoke fond memories, La Albiceleste faltered in the only previous World Cup edition held in the United States, bowing out in the round of 16 to Romania in 1994.

However, after ending their painful drought in Qatar four years ago, Argentina head into this summer’s tournament with renewed confidence and belief, aiming to build on their recent triumph rather than relive past setbacks.

Year	Round	P	W	D	L	F	A
1930	Runners-up	5	4	0	1	18	9
1934	Round of 16	1	0	0	1	2	3
1938	Withdrew
1950	Withdrew
1954	Withdrew
1958	Group stage	3	1	0	2	5	10
1962	Group stage	3	1	1	1	2	3
1966	Quarter-finals	6	2	1	1	4	2
1970	Did not qualify
1974	Quarter-finals	6	1	2	3	9	12
1978	Champions	7	5	1	1	15	4
1982	Second group stage	5	2	0	3	8	7
1986	Champions	7	6	1	0	14	5
1990	Runners-up	7	2	3	2	5	4
1994	Round of 16	4	2	0	2	8	6
1998	Quarter-finals	5	3	1	1	10	4
2002	Group stage	5	3	1	1	2	2
2006	Quarter-finals	5	3	2	0	11	3
2010	Quarter-finals	5	4	0	1	10	6
2014	Runners-up	7	5	1	1	8	4
2018	Round of 16	4	1	1	2	6	9
2022	Champions	7	4	2	1	15	8

FAQs

Has Argentina won the World Cup?

Yes. Argentina won the World Cup three times. Their most recent success came in Qatar in 2022.

Who is the Argentina manager?

Lionel Scaloni. It’s his first high-profile job, having previously coached the country’s U20 side.

How did Argentina fare in the last World Cup?

Argentina won the coveted ‘Jules Rimet’ trophy in 2022. They beat France in the final.

Who has made the most appearances for Argentina?

Lionel Messi. He has won 198 caps and will reach the 200-cap milestone at the World Cup.

Who has scored the most goals for Argentina?

Lionel Messi has scored an eye-catching 112 goals for his country.