Lionel Scaloni named the Argentina World Cup squad 2026 on Thursday, May 28. Captain Lionel Messi headlines the 26-player roster and is set for a record sixth World Cup. The defending champions kept 17 players from the Qatar 2022 winning side. The biggest shock was the omission of teenager Franco Mastantuono.
Argentina open Group J against Algeria on June 16 in Kansas City. Messi was included despite a recent hamstring scare, with Scaloni saying the early reports were “not that bad.” The squad blends Qatar winners like Emiliano Martínez, Rodrigo De Paul, and Julián Álvarez with emerging talent. Argentina aim to become the first nation since Brazil in 1962 to defend the title.
This is your full Argentina squad list, schedule, and key player breakdown for the 2026 tournament.
Argentina 26-Player Squad for World Cup 2026
| Position | Player | Club | Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Emiliano Martínez | Aston Villa | 33 |
| GK | Gerónimo Rulli | Marseille | 33 |
| GK | Juan Musso | Atlético Madrid | 31 |
| DF | Nahuel Molina | Atlético Madrid | 28 |
| DF | Gonzalo Montiel | River Plate | 29 |
| DF | Cristian Romero | Tottenham Hotspur | 28 |
| DF | Lisandro Martínez | Manchester United | 28 |
| DF | Nicolás Otamendi | Benfica | 38 |
| DF | Leonardo Balerdi | Marseille | 27 |
| DF | Facundo Medina | Marseille | 27 |
| DF | Nicolás Tagliafico | Lyon | 33 |
| MF | Rodrigo De Paul | Inter Miami | 31 |
| MF | Alexis Mac Allister | Liverpool | 27 |
| MF | Enzo Fernández | Chelsea | 25 |
| MF | Leandro Paredes | Boca Juniors | 31 |
| MF | Giovani Lo Celso | Real Betis | 30 |
| MF | Exequiel Palacios | Bayer Leverkusen | 27 |
| MF | Valentín Barco | Strasbourg | 21 |
| FW | Lionel Messi (C) | Inter Miami | 38 |
| FW | Lautaro Martínez | Inter Milan | 28 |
| FW | Julián Álvarez | Atlético Madrid | 26 |
| FW | Nico González | Atlético Madrid | 28 |
| FW | Thiago Almada | Atlético Madrid | 25 |
| FW | Giuliano Simeone | Atlético Madrid | 23 |
| FW | Nico Paz | Como | 21 |
| FW | José Manuel López | Palmeiras | 25 |
(C) = captain. Squad as confirmed on May 28, 2026.
For all 48 team announcement dates, see our World Cup 2026 squads tracker.
Quick Stats
Here are the key numbers in Lionel Scaloni’s final 26.
- Captain: Lionel Messi, in his record sixth World Cup
- Qatar 2022 winners retained: 17 players
- Most-capped player: Lionel Messi (198 caps, a national record)
- Top scorer in the squad: Lionel Messi (116 goals, a national record)
- Atlético Madrid players: 5 (Musso, Álvarez, Nico González, Almada, Simeone)
- Youngest players: Valentín Barco and Nico Paz (both 21)
- Oldest players: Lionel Messi (38, turns 39 during the tournament) and Nicolás Otamendi (38)
- World Cup debutants: Musso, Barco, Facundo Medina, Balerdi, Nico Paz, Simeone, Nico González, and José Manuel López
Key Players to Watch
Lionel Messi (Inter Miami). The 38-year-old captain, who turns 39 during the tournament, leads Argentina into a record sixth World Cup. Messi holds the national records for caps (198) and goals (116), and sits three goals short of the all-time World Cup scoring record. A hamstring scare clouded his buildup, but he is expected to be fit.
Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan). The squad’s most reliable striker with 32 international goals. Lautaro was the top scorer at the 2024 Copa América and gives Scaloni a clinical number nine. He shoulders much of the scoring load when Messi drops deeper.
Julián Álvarez (Atlético Madrid). A Qatar 2022 hero who scored four goals in that winning run. Álvarez is in form at club level and can play through the middle or off Messi. Many tip him to step up as Argentina’s main attacking force.
Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa). The goalkeeper who won the Golden Glove in 2022 and saved Argentina in two shootouts on the way to the title. “Dibu” remains one of the best keepers in the world and a penalty specialist.
Enzo Fernández (Chelsea). Named Best Young Player at Qatar 2022. The Chelsea midfielder controls tempo and progresses the ball, anchoring a midfield alongside Mac Allister and De Paul.
Nico Paz (Como). The 21-year-old is the brightest of Argentina’s new generation. After a breakout season in Serie A, Paz earns his first World Cup call and offers creativity off the bench behind Messi.
Argentina World Cup 2026 Schedule
Argentina play all three group stage matches in the United States. Local kick-off times are listed in both Eastern Time (ET) and Argentina Time (ART) for fans at home.
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Kickoff (ET) | Kickoff (ART) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, June 16 | Algeria | Kansas City Stadium (Arrowhead Stadium), Kansas City | 9:00 PM | 10:00 PM |
| Monday, June 22 | Austria | Dallas Stadium (AT&T Stadium), Arlington | 1:00 PM | 2:00 PM |
| Saturday, June 27 | Jordan | Dallas Stadium (AT&T Stadium), Arlington | 10:00 PM | 11:00 PM |
All kickoff times follow the official FIFA match schedule, and Group J positions were confirmed from the December 5, 2025 draw in Washington. Before the tournament, Argentina play two friendlies in the United States, against Honduras on June 6 in College Station, Texas, and Iceland on June 9 in Auburn, Alabama. The team has chosen Kansas City as its World Cup base camp.
How Argentina Qualified for World Cup 2026
Argentina qualified comfortably through the CONMEBOL South American round-robin. Scaloni’s side topped the 10-team group and secured their place with matches to spare, confirming qualification on March 25, 2025. The campaign showed the same control that defined their 2022 title run.
Lautaro Martínez and Lionel Messi led the scoring through qualifying, with key wins over rivals home and away. A late stretch saw Argentina rest players once their place was secure, dropping a 1-0 result in Ecuador while already qualified.
Argentina enter 2026 as one of the favourites, ranked third in the world. Their recent form has been strong, with four wins in their last five matches and only one goal conceded across that run.
Head Coach: Lionel Scaloni
Lionel Scaloni, 48, has managed Argentina since 2018 and oversaw the most successful period in the nation’s modern history. He guided Argentina to the 2021 Copa América, the 2022 World Cup, and the 2024 Copa América, ending long trophy droughts in the process.
Scaloni favours a flexible 4-3-3 that can shift to a back five against stronger sides. He built the team around Messi while developing a deep, balanced squad that can win in different ways. His man-management and tactical adjustments in knockout games have been central to Argentina’s run of titles.
For 2026 he made hard calls, leaving out Mastantuono and 2022 winner Marcos Acuña. Cristian Romero was included despite a knee ligament issue, a sign of how much Scaloni trusts his Qatar core.
Group J at a Glance
| Team | FIFA Ranking | World Cup Appearances | Best Finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina | 3 | 19 | Winner (1978, 1986, 2022) |
| Austria | 24 | 8 | Third place (1954) |
| Algeria | 35 | 5 | Round of 16 (2014) |
| Jordan | 66 | 1 | Debut (2026) |
Group J is seen as one of the more favourable draws for a top seed. Argentina are heavy favourites to win the group. Austria and Algeria are expected to fight for second, while Jordan make their first ever World Cup appearance. For full group breakdowns, see our Groups page.
FAQ About Argentina World Cup Squad 2026
What is Argentina’s FIFA ranking going into the 2026 World Cup?
Argentina are ranked third in the world as of the April 1, 2026 FIFA rankings. They held the number one spot for much of the period after winning the 2022 World Cup before slipping to third in early 2026.
How many World Cups has Lionel Messi played in?
The 2026 World Cup is Messi’s sixth, a men’s record. He previously played in 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022, winning the title in Qatar. He and Cristiano Ronaldo are set to become the first men to appear in six different World Cups.
Can Argentina defend their World Cup title?
No team has retained the World Cup since Brazil in 1962. Argentina arrive as one of the favourites and would make history by going back to back. Their depth and tournament experience give them a real chance.
Who is Argentina’s all-time top scorer?
Lionel Messi is Argentina’s all-time leading scorer with 116 goals, and also the most-capped player with 198 appearances. He sits three goals short of the all-time World Cup tournament scoring record.
What formation does Argentina play under Scaloni?
Scaloni usually sets up in a 4-3-3 that can drop into a back five against stronger opponents. The midfield trio of Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister, and Rodrigo De Paul is the engine behind the attack.
Where is Argentina’s World Cup base camp?
Argentina have chosen Kansas City as their World Cup base camp. They open the group stage there against Algeria on June 16 before two matches in Dallas against Austria and Jordan.
Argentina’s World Cup 2026 Hopes
The Argentina World Cup squad 2026 carries the rare burden of defending a title. Scaloni has kept the spine of his Qatar winners and added fresh legs in Barco, Nico Paz, and Simeone. The obvious question is fitness, with Messi, Romero, and others managing knocks in the buildup. At full strength, this is one of the deepest squads at the tournament.
A favourable group should ease Argentina into the knockouts. From there, the experience of Messi, Lautaro, and Álvarez, plus a proven coach in Scaloni, makes them genuine contenders to reach the final. If Messi stays fit for one more deep run, the dream of back-to-back titles is very much alive.
