Five days after putting Austria away 2-0 in their second group fixture, Argentina arrive at AT&T Stadium for their final Group Stage match having already done the hard work. Two wins from two, six goals scored, none conceded in World Cup 2026 play, and Lionel Messi sitting top of the tournament scoring charts with five goals: Lionel Scaloni’s side have little left to prove in this group. The question is how much they show against a Jordan team that has lost both of its matches and conceded five goals along the way.
What’s at stake
Argentina have already secured their place in the round of 32 with two wins. This third group match is about finishing the group stage on a clean sheet of results and carrying confidence into the knockout rounds. For Jordan, the math is unforgiving: two defeats in two games, including a 1-2 home loss to Algeria four days ago, leave Velimir Borkelmans’ side with nothing to play for in the standings.
A win for Argentina would guarantee first place in the group, which typically provides a more favorable knockout bracket draw. For Jordan, the match represents a final opportunity to show something on the world stage before elimination is confirmed. There is no points scenario that changes their exit, but how they perform here will carry weight for the program heading home.
How they got here
Argentina have won all five of their last five matches, including a 3-0 defeat of Algeria and the 2-0 win over Austria in the group stage, plus pre-tournament wins over Iceland (3-0), Honduras (2-0), and Zambia (5-0). Scaloni has been able to rotate and rest key players without the results ever feeling in doubt. Jordan, by contrast, have not won in their last five outings: a draw with Nigeria in March was their only point across five games. They lost 1-3 to Austria in the group opener, then fell 1-2 to Algeria, and were beaten in both pre-tournament friendlies against Colombia and Switzerland.
The group table context is different for both sides. Argentina’s standing within their group is not listed in the provided data, but their record of two wins from two speaks to their form. Jordan sit at the bottom of their group with zero points from two matches played.
Key battle to watch
The central matchup to track is Messi’s movement against Jordan’s defensive shape. With five goals in the tournament already, Messi is not just leading the scoring charts; he is dictating Argentina’s attacking rhythm. Jordan’s backline has conceded five goals in two matches and has yet to find a way to keep opponents out. Whether Borkelmans attempts a low defensive block to limit space or tries to press higher, Argentina’s midfield, built around Alexis Mac Allister and Rodrigo De Paul, has shown the quality to exploit gaps at pace. How Jordan’s defenders handle Messi’s positioning between the lines will likely determine the scoreline more than any other single factor.
Key Stats
Match Context
Standings
Head To Head
Our Prediction
Argentina are the overwhelming favorites and show no signs of easing off, particularly with Messi chasing the tournament golden boot. Jordan have struggled to contain any of their opponents this tournament and nothing in their recent run suggests that changes here. Expect Argentina to control possession, create multiple clear opportunities, and Scaloni to use the second half to hand minutes to fringe players ahead of the knockout stage.