Argentina come to North America in June with the trophy still in their cabinet and a thirty-eight-year-old captain who has already said this is the last one. The defending champions face a group designed for a smooth start, a friendly draw on paper, and an impossible weight of expectation. Here is the state of Lionel Scaloni's squad with three weeks left until kick-off.
The big question: is Messi actually playing?
Short answer: yes. Lionel Messi has been named in Argentina's 55-man provisional squad announced on 11 May, and Scaloni has been unambiguous about his place in the final 26. The longer answer is load management. At 38, with an MLS season folded around the tournament, Messi will be used differently than in Qatar. Expect him to start every knockout match if Argentina get there, but do not be surprised if a group-stage cameo against Jordan turns into a rest day.
Group J: a kind landing
Argentina drew Group J at the December ceremony alongside Austria, Algeria and World Cup debutants Jordan. On any reasonable model, Argentina win that group. The interest is in seeding for the Round of 32: a top spot likely points the bracket toward a softer opening knockout, while a finish behind, say, Austria after a slow start could line up a much sharper second-round opponent.
The opener against David Alaba's Austria is the one to watch. Austria are organised, set-piece dangerous, and have just enough quality across the back four to make the first hour uncomfortable. Argentina's record in tournament openers is mixed — losing the first match in Qatar to Saudi Arabia and still winning the thing will be cited often, in case anyone needs reassurance.
The squad that matters
The spine of the 2022 champions remains. Emiliano Martínez in goal, Cristian Romero and Nicolás Otamendi at the back, Rodrigo De Paul and Enzo Fernández running midfield, Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez as the forward pairing alongside Messi. Álvarez scored four times during the Qatar run and has carried that into another stellar club year. Lautaro topped the scoring charts at the 2024 Copa América and netted the winner in the final.
The new arrivals are where this squad differs from 2022. Scaloni has been blending in younger forwards through World Cup qualifiers, with the next generation of Argentine playmakers expected to fill out the bench rather than ride it.
What Scaloni does that other coaches do not
Three patterns to watch when Argentina play:
- Mid-game shape shifts. Scaloni has used a 4-3-3 and a 4-4-2 diamond in alternate halves of the same match. Substitutes are often a tactical signal, not a like-for-like swap.
- Messi-on-the-right starting position. The captain drifts inside from the right wing rather than playing as a free 10. It keeps the central lane open for Álvarez to run beyond.
- Set-piece deliveries to the back post. Argentina's set pieces have been heavily weighted to the far post over the last two years — Romero is the target.
The realistic ceiling
Argentina are not the clear favourites this time. Spain, France, and host nation USA all have arguments. But the model that says "the defending champions with the same coach and most of the same spine usually go deep" is a strong one. A semi-final is the floor for a healthy Argentina. The final is plausible. Back-to-back titles would put them in genuinely rare company — only Italy (1934–38) and Brazil (1958–62) have managed it.
FAQ
Will this be Messi's last World Cup? Almost certainly. He has not formally retired from internationals, but the captain has indicated this is the end of the line at the tournament. Expect the post-final scenes either way.
When is Argentina's first match? Argentina open their campaign in the first matchweek of group play in mid-June. Specific venue and opponent order is finalised once FIFA confirms host-city assignments. We will update our soccer page when the schedule drops.
Who will replace Scaloni if Argentina win? Nobody is asking him to leave. His contract runs through 2030, and the AFA has been clear that Scaloni picks his own exit.
Is Di María involved? Ángel Di María retired from international football after the 2024 Copa América. He is not part of the squad and will not be returning.