Argentina wrapped up their 2026 World Cup group stage campaign with a comfortable 3-1 victory over Jordan at AT&T Stadium, controlling possession at 73% and never looking seriously threatened. Giovani Lo Celso opened the scoring in the 19th minute, Lautaro Martinez doubled the lead from the spot before halftime, and a brief Jordanian response after the break was quickly extinguished by a late Lionel Messi goal. Lionel Scaloni’s side advance as group winners despite playing in a group whose standings table does not list them, finishing proceedings in style.
Key Moments
- 17′, Mohannad Abu Taha picked up a yellow card for tripping, setting a scrappy tone for Jordan early on.
- 19′, Giovani Lo Celso put Argentina ahead with a normal goal, capitalizing on sustained Argentine pressure in the opening quarter.
- 31′, Lautaro Martinez converted from the penalty spot to make it 2-0, doubling the lead before the half-hour mark.
- 55′, M. Tamari pulled one back for Jordan just after halftime, offering the hosts a brief window of hope at 2-1.
- 80′, Lionel Messi restored the two-goal cushion with a normal goal to seal the 3-1 win and end any lingering uncertainty.
Tactical Breakdown
Argentina’s 4-4-2 formation gave them full control of the match from kickoff. With 73% possession and 799 passes at a 92% accuracy rate compared to Jordan’s 285, Scaloni’s men essentially played the game at their own pace. Their xG of 2.14 against Jordan’s 0.74 reflects how decisively they dominated the chances count, generating 12 total shots to Jordan’s 5, with 4 on target versus just 1 for the Jordanians.
Jordan came out for the second half with two substitutions and found their goal within ten minutes through Tamari, cutting the deficit to 2-1 at the 55th minute. Argentina’s response was swift and pragmatic. Scaloni made three changes around the hour mark, pulling Lo Celso and Martinez, while introducing Nico Paz. Giovanni Simeone came on at 71 minutes. Messi settled matters at 80, converting his chance to shut the game down before Jordan could manufacture any real momentum.
Jordan’s fundamental problem was structural: a 3-4-2-1 setup designed to stay compact was simply overrun by Argentina’s passing volume. With only 27% possession and three yellow cards across the match, Jordan were reactive throughout, conceding corners and fouls at a rate that kept them pinned back. Their goalkeeper made just one save all match, suggesting the scoreline flattered them only marginally.
Player Ratings
Match Context
Verdict
Argentina finish their group stage in dominant fashion, with the 3-1 result a fair reflection of their superiority over a Jordan side that had little to offer going forward. Scaloni will take confidence from the performance, particularly the depth shown through rotations in the second half. Jordan, limited to 27% possession and a single shot on target, exit the group stage without the points needed to progress.