Argentina and Messi’s Road to a Back-to-Back World Cup Title
After their triumph at Qatar 2022, Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina — led by Messi — enter the 2026 World Cup as one of the main favorites. But what does their path look like?
The Argentina national team, with Lionel Messi at the helm, will begin its journey at the 2026 World Cup with one mission: winning back-to-back titles.
Due to the draw rules, Argentina — as one of the top-ranked teams — avoided heavyweights such as Spain, France, and England.
Group J
- Argentina
- Algeria
- Austria
- Jordan
Now that Argentina’s opponents are known, the Albiceleste will only need to wait for the full match schedule and host venues, which will be announced this Saturday.
Will Messi Play in the 2026 World Cup?
All signs point to Messi playing at the 2026 World Cup, as long as nothing unexpected happens — although coach Lionel Scaloni hasn’t guaranteed it 100%.
“He will decide, and we’ll support him. So far everything is going well, but there is still time. It may feel like the World Cup is close, but six months is a long time,” he said before the draw.
How Many World Cups Has Argentina Won?
- Argentina 1978
- Mexico 1986
- Qatar 2022
Argentina has played in 18 FIFA World Cups, missing only four out of 22 editions.
