Argentina is headed to World Cup 2026, set to compete in Group J, and they’re set to defend their title as reigning champs from the 2022 World Cup in what is expected to be F Lionel Messi’s final WC appearance.
Below, we’ll break down Argentina’s projected starting lineup, best players, group outlook, strengths and weaknesses, and top World Cup picks on PrizePicks.
Over on PrizePicks Team Picks, you can make a prediction on how national teams will perform in the 2026 World Cup, including tournament winner, group winner, and knockout-stage advancement markets.
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Argentina Projected Starting Lineup for World Cup 2026
The focus of Argentina’s lineup is certainly on Lionel Messi, but they also deploy the likes of F Julian Alvarez, MF Enzo Fernandez, MF Thiago Almada, and MF Nico Paz. F Lautaro Martinez and MF Alexis Mac Allister are other names to watch in the attack and midfield.
On the defensive end of the pitch, DF Lisandro Martinez, DF Cristian Romero, and GK Emiliano Martinez all play domestically in the Premier League.
Most of the players from manager Lionel Scaloni’s side that were on the championship team in 2022 are still on the roster.
Projected Argentina Formation: 4-3-3
- Goalkeeper: Emiliano Martinez
- Defense: Nicolas Tagliafico, Lisandro Martinez, Cristian Romero, Nahuel Molina
- Midfield: Enzo Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister, Rodrigo De Paul
- Forwards: Thiago Almada, Julian Alvarez, Lionel Messi
The Argentina World Cup XI could change based on form, injuries, and matchup, but Argentina’s core could center around their attacking duo of Messi and Julian Alvarez.
How Argentina Qualified for World Cup 2026
Argentina made light work of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup by finishing first in the CONMEBOL standings with a 12-2-4 record.
No other team in the CONMEBOL qualifiers had double-digit wins, and La Albiceleste outscored their opponents by 21 goals in the process.
Best Player for Argentina: Lionel Messi
There’s an argument to be made that Julian Alvarez is now the best player on Argentina’s roster, but Messi remains a key fixture in the attack.
After scoring 43 goals in 49 matches across all competitions for Inter Miami in 2024-25, Messi has tallied 13 goals in Inter Miami’s first 16 contests of the 2025-26 campaign. He also leads Inter Miami in xG + xA per 90 minutes (1.31) in the current MLS season, per FotMob.
With Messi still being an effective player at 38 years old, he is tied for the fifth-lowest payout to win the Golden Boot (14.28x) with 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo, via PrizePicks Team Picks.
What to Expect From Argentina at the World Cup
FIFA World Ranking: 1
Argentina Best World Cup Result: Champions in 1978, 1986, and 2022
There’s some pressure hanging on Argentina’s shoulders to defend their title as champs, and they undoubtedly have the talent and makeup to emerge as victors again.
Luckily for La Albiceleste, they got a nice draw in Group J, getting tune-up games in group play against Austria, Algeria, and Jordan.
When Argentina has possession, they are precise with their passing, and their midfield tends to overwhelm opponents, leading to turnovers and chances for Messi and the other goal scorers to pepper the net with shots.
Argentina’s back line may very well be the team’s biggest weakness, but Martinez has proven to be a reliable goalkeeper on the biggest of stages.
Argentina Picks for 2026 World Cup
Here are some Argentina picks on PrizePicks for the 2026 World Cup. Check out more of our soccer picks and predictions on Playbook.
The World Cup payouts listed below indicate real-money earnings if a prediction is correct; for example, a 2x on a $100 entry pays out $200 on PrizePicks Team Picks. Payouts are live as of writing but are subject to change.
Argentina to Win 2026 World Cup
Yes 8.33x | No 1.06x
Italy (1934 and 1938) and Brazil (1958 and 1962) are the only national teams to ever win back-to-back World Cups. Despite it being a nearly impossible feat to achieve, Messi and company are looking to create magic again in what could be his final tournament.
Only Spain (5x), France (5.26x), England (7.69x), and Portugal (7.69x) have lower payouts than Argentina to win the 2026 World Cup, via PrizePicks Team Picks.
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Argentina to Win World Cup Group J
Yes 1.33x | No 3.12x
Once again, even with La Albiceleste not getting many opportunities to find a rhythm against marquee opponents ahead of the 2026 World Cup, they got a very solid draw in Group J.
Argentina has advanced to at least the quarterfinals in three of their last four World Cups, and it would be somewhat surprising if they aren’t sitting atop their group in the group stage.
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Argentina to Advance to World Cup Knockout Stage
Yes N/A | No 22.22x (via PrizePicks)
While it’d be a slight surprise if Argentina falls short of winning Group J, it’d be a stunner if they don’t at least qualify for the knockout stage.
With potentially three teams qualifying from any group in this year’s World Cup, it’s worth pointing out that Jordan is 63rd in the FIFA World Rankings and making their WC debut.
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Make Argentina World Cup Picks on PrizePicks
Argentina is going to have a target on their back entering the 2026 World Cup after being crowned WC champions in 2022. Can La Albiceleste become just the third team to repeat as World Cup champs in what is likely Messi’s last tournament?
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Stick around with the Playbook for continued World Cup predictions, picks, and analysis through the end of the tournament.
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