2026 World Cup - Group J: Preview, squad and schedule for Argentina

16.06.26 FT World Cup

Argentina

3

:

Algeria

0

Argentina will compete in the 2026 World Cup for the 19th time in its history. The reigning world champions, after their triumph in Qatar in 2022, La Albiceleste will aim to retain their crown and become the first team to win back-to-back World Cups since Brazil in 1958 and 1962.

World Cup history

Present since the inaugural tournament in 1930, Argentina has established itself over the decades as one of the greatest footballing nations on the planet.

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La Albiceleste has won the World Cup three times: in 1978 led by Mario Kempes, in 1986 with Diego Armando Maradona, and in 2022 with Lionel Messi.

Qualification campaign

Argentina secured qualification with four matchdays to spare in the South American qualifiers. Lionel Scaloni's men finished top with 38 points (12 wins, 2 draws, 4 losses), nine points ahead of Ecuador.

Number of appearances

18 (1930, 1934, 1958, 1962, 1966, 1974, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022)

World Cup record

88 matches: 47 wins, 17 draws, 24 losses, 152 goals scored / 101 conceded

Argentina squad

Goalkeepers: Juan Musso (Atlético de Madrid, ESP), Geronimo Rulli (Marseille), Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa, ENG)

Defenders: Leonardo Balerdi (Marseille), Nicolas Tagliafico (Lyon), Gonzalo Montiel (River Plate, ARG), Lisandro Martinez (Manchester United, ENG), Cristian Romero (Tottenham, ENG), Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica, POR), Facundo Medina (Marseille), Nahuel Molina (Atlético de Madrid, ESP)

Midfielders: Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool, ENG), Rodrigo De Paul (Inter Miami, USA), Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea, ENG), Leandro Paredes (Boca Juniors, ARG), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen, GER), Giovani Lo Celso (Real Betis, ESP), Valentin Barco (Strasbourg)

Forwards: Lionel Messi (Inter Miami, USA), Julian Alvarez (Atlético de Madrid, ESP), Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan, ITA), Thiago Almada (Atlético de Madrid, ESP), Nico Paz (Como, ITA), Nicolas Gonzalez (Atlético de Madrid, ESP), Giuliano Simeone (Atlético de Madrid, ESP), José Manuel Lopez (Palmeiras, BRA)

Argentina's Group J schedule

Tuesday, June 16, 2026

Argentina vs. Algeria

01:00 | Kansas City Stadium

Monday, June 22, 2026

Argentina vs. Austria

17:00 | Dallas Stadium

Saturday, June 27, 2026

Jordan vs. Argentina

02:00 | Dallas Stadium

Imed Ben Amara |

Editorar, fr

Imed Ben Amara - bilingual sports writer and web editor with experience in football content creation. Since 2021, he has contributed to Foot Africa, providing news coverage and analysis.

Related teams and leagues

Argentina

Algeria

World Cup