Argentina

Scaloni's rebuild starts now

Lionel Scaloni stayed after Qatar 2022, but Argentina's 2026 cycle demands fresh blood. Enzo Fernández anchors midfield, Cristian Romero marshals defense, and Julián Álvarez must fill the creative void if Messi steps back. CONMEBOL qualifying exposed vulnerabilities — a 2-0 loss to Uruguay in November 2023 showed how quickly opponents target their high defensive line. The Copa América 2024 will test whether Scaloni can integrate younger players like Alejandro Garnacho without losing the team's tournament grit.

Group stage déjà vu

Argentina's 2026 draw could mirror their 2022 path — avoiding European giants early but facing physical CONCACAF or AFC opponents. In Qatar, they lost to Saudi Arabia before grinding through Mexico and Poland. A similar group with Canada or Morocco would test their ability to break low blocks, while a reunion with the Netherlands or Croatia would bring tactical fireworks. Their opener will likely be at MetLife Stadium, where Messi scored twice for Inter Miami in 2023.

From Maradona to Martínez

No nation rides emotional extremes like Argentina. The 2022 final's penalty drama followed Diego Maradona's 1986 heroics and the 2014 heartbreak against Germany. Emiliano Martínez's trash-talking and Rodrigo De Paul's relentless running defined their Qatar campaign as much as Messi's magic. With 18 World Cup appearances, they've alternated between early exits (2002, 2018) and finals (2014, 2022) for two decades. The 2026 squad must prove they're more than a victory lap for the 2022 heroes.

Group standings

#	Team	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Algeria	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2	Argentina	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3	Austria	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	Jordan	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Fixtures & results

Match	Date	Group	Score	Status
Argentina vs AlgeriaEstadio Kansas City	Wed, Jun 17, 2026 · 02:00 ET	j	–	Scheduled
Argentina vs AustriaEstadio Dallas	Mon, Jun 22, 2026 · 18:00 ET	j	–	Scheduled
Jordan vs ArgentinaEstadio Dallas	Sun, Jun 28, 2026 · 03:00 ET	j	–	Scheduled

Key players

• Lionel MessiForward