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Now that Argentina has officially won World Cup Group J and qualified for the Round of 32, all eyes turn to their next match in the knockout stage.
La Albiceleste cruised through the group stage with two wins to open the competition, already earning them a Round of 32 knockout match in Miami Gardens, with a chance to continue their World Cup title defense.
But the big question remains: Who will Argentina play in the Round of 32?
Argentina was set to play the second-place team from Group H in the Round of 32. After Friday night’s matches, we now know that the team will be Cape Verde, who finished second in Group H with three consecutive draws.
We’ll go over Argentina’s confirmed matchup in the World Cup Round of 32 below, as well as where and when the reigning champions’ first knockout-stage game will be played.
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Who Will Argentina Play in the Round of 32?
Following the conclusion of Group H play on Friday night, we now know Argentina will face Cape Verde, which finished second in the group. Cape Verde has now qualified for the knockout stage in its debut World Cup appearance. It entered the tournament with a 2.56x payout via PrizePicks to qualify from Group H.
Cape Verde achieved the unthinkable by taking points from all three of its Group H opponents, including one of the World Cup favorites, Spain. The African side has discovered a formula that completely nullifies its opponent's attack, playing nearly all 10 outfielders behind the ball when out of possession.
This uber-defensive style led Cape Verde to three straight draws against its Group H opponents, with Bubista’s squad scoring and conceding just 2 goals each.
As a result, Cape Verde’s attacking numbers are about as poor as any team that has already advanced to the knockout stage. The African side is averaging just 37.3% possession, creating 1 big chance, and having just 2.3 shots on target per game.
Cape Verde will now look to replicate its game plan against the reigning World Cup winners when they meet on Friday, July 3. The goal will be to make the game as cagey as possible and force Argentina to a penalty shootout, where Cape Verde will have its best chance of pulling off the upset.
Cape Verde to defeat Argentina next Friday currently has a 14.28x payout via PrizePicks Team Picks.
When Will Argentina Play in the Round of 32?
Argentina will play its Round of 32 match on Friday, July 3, at 6 p.m. ET at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida.
The Round of 32 match is set six days after Argentina’s final group stage match against Jordan later tonight.
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Where Will Argentina Play in the Round of 32?
Argentina’s Round of 32 game will be played at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida.
Both Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul will return to the city they call home during the club season. The Inter Miami stars, along with the rest of La Albiceleste, will then have four days in between matches if they defeat Cape Verde.
Argentina will play at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, in the Round of 16 on July 7 if it advances.
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Argentina is an overwhelming favorite to make the Round of 16, with a 1.03x payout on PrizePicks (10x on No). The reigning champions are also expected to make the quarterfinals, with a 1.2x payout to advance to the final eight of World Cup 2026.
With Australia and Egypt now confirmed for the Round of 32, opposite Argentina and Cape Verde, Argentina can likely expect to face the winner of that match. Egypt is the early favorite with a 2.38x payout to defeat Australia.
How Was Argentina’s Round of 32 Opponent Determined?
As the winner of Group J, Argentina’s Round of 32 opponent was determined by Friday night’s results. Group J’s winner was set to play the Group H runner-up, who many believed would be Uruguay before the tournament began.
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Make World Cup Round of 32 Predictions on PrizePicks
The 2026 World Cup group stage is coming to a close, and that means the 32-team knockout stage is just around the corner. The World Cup is about to shift to the win-or-go-home stage of the tournament, beginning with South Africa vs. Canada on Sunday.
You can make your World Cup predictions on how far Argentina or other teams will advance in the knockout stage on PrizePicks Team Picks — available in 35 states!
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