Argentina have been slotted in Group J of the World Cup 2026, as Los Albicelestes look to defend their coveted crown at the grandest stage next year.
The highly anticipated group stage draw for the FIFA World Cup 2026 took place today in Washington DC, setting the stage for an exhilarating expanded tournament featuring 48 teams from across the globe.
The event commenced with a speech from the FIFA President explaining the draw procedures, followed by former football legends and renowned celebrities unveiling the group lineups. This new format introduces 12 groups of four teams each, which heightens the stakes with every match, promising intensified competition and exciting football action.
As the host nations, Mexico, Canada, and the United States were automatically placed into Groups A, B, and D respectively, honoring their role in co-hosting the event. To maintain balance and diversity in the tournament, defending champions France, alongside other FIFA top-ranked teams, were carefully allocated groups taking into account FIFA rankings and confederation guidelines. This arrangement strategically prevents teams from the same region playing against each other in the initial stage, promoting global matchups.
Argentina World Cup 2026 Schedule
Among the spotlight teams, Argentina, the reigning champions from the 2022 World Cup-find themselves in Group J. Led by the iconic Lionel Messi, who continues to be the heartbeat of the Argentine squad, they are grouped with Algeria from Africa, Austria from Europe, and Jordan from Asia.
Argentina will kick off their World Cup campaign against Algeria, looking to capitalize on their strong momentum and aim for their fourth World Cup title with high expectations based on their recent impressive performances. They will be up against Austria and play Jordan in their final group stage encounter.
Argentina WC 2026 Group Stage Matches
Argentina vs Algeria, June 16
Argentina vs Austria, June 22
Argentina vs Jordan, June 27
FIFA World Cup 2026 Groups
Group A: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, UEFA Playoff D Winner
Group B: Canada, UEFA Playoff A Winner, Qatar, Switzerland
Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland
Group D: USA, Paraguay, Australia, UEFA Playoff C Winner
Group E: Germany, CuraÇao, Ecuador, Ivory Coast
Group F: Netherlands, Japan, UEFA Playoff B Winner, Tunisia
Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand
Group H: Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay
Group I: France, Senegal, FIFA Playoff 2 Winner, Norway
Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan
Group K: Portugal, FIFA Playoff 1 Winner, Colombia, Uzbekistan
Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama