23/06/2026 09:13 - Deportes
The Argentina National Team, known as La Scaloneta and La Albiceleste (the White and Sky Blue), secured their place in the Round of 16 of the World Cup 2026 as Group J winners after a 2-0 victory over Austria, reaching 6 points with a goal difference of +5. Their next match is scheduled for Saturday, June 27 at 23:00 (Argentine time) against Jordan in Dallas, a match where Lionel Scaloni has already anticipated squad rotations.
In the post-match press conference following the win against Austria, the world champion manager was clear: "Qualification doesn't change anything for us; everyone would have signed to win both matches. Now we will analyze. The idea is to give playing time to the majority of players who deserve it, and whenever the match allows, we will do it."
One confirmed absence is center-back Cristian 'Cuti' Romero, who plays for Tottenham Hotspur. He suffered a knock to his right knee during the match against Austria and will be preserved. The defender had already dealt with a sprain in that area during the World Cup preparations.
Among the footballers who could get more playing time are Nicolás Tagliafico (Olympique Lyon) and Leandro Paredes (AS Roma), who started the tournament with minor injuries but have already logged minutes against Austria. The staff will also evaluate what to do with Enzo Fernández (Chelsea) and Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), who played the full 90 minutes in the first two matches without being substituted.
Lisandro Martínez (Manchester United) is another player who has not been substituted in any match so far.
The spotlight is also on Lionel Messi, the team's captain and global football icon, who turns 39 years old on Wednesday, June 24 and is experiencing an extraordinary start to this World Cup. The legendary forward, who plays for Inter Miami in MLS, has already scored 5 goals in the tournament, becoming the all-time top scorer in World Cup history with 18 goals, surpassing Miroslav Klose (16). Additionally, he broke four Guinness World Records: most matches played (28), most victories (18), and most minutes played (2,489).
Messi scored both goals in the win against Austria (at 38' of the first half and late in the match) and missed a penalty in the 9th minute. He also equaled the record of Just Fontaine (1958) and Jairzinho (1970) by scoring in six consecutive World Cup matches.
Argentina already knows their knockout stage scenario: they will face the runner-up of Group H on Friday, July 3 at 19:00 (Argentine time) at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. Group H is currently led by Spain with 4 points, followed by Uruguay and Cape Verde with 2 points each, while Saudi Arabia has no points.
The new FIFA tie-breaking system for the 2026 World Cup prioritizes head-to-head results over overall goal difference in case of a tie on points.
| Team | Pts | GD |
|---|---|---|
| Argentina | 6 | +5 |
| Austria | 3 | +2 |
| Algeria | 3 | -2 |
| Jordan | 0 | -5 |
The match against Austria was played at the Dallas Stadium and coincided with the 40th anniversary of Diego Maradona's 'Goal of the Century' against England in Mexico 1986. Argentina defeated Algeria 3-0 in the opening match and Austria 2-0 in the second, securing their progression with one match to spare. This dominance showcases Argentina's status as defending champions from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Source: TyC Sports
Alfredo S. Quiroga
