Qatar 2022 winners Argentina are on track to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to successfully defend their World Cup title in what looks set to be the soccer superstar Lionel Messi's swan song on the international stage. 

Lining up in Group J alongside Austria, Algeria and Iraq, La Albiceleste got off to the perfect start in the opening match of their title defense, with Messi on hand to score a decisive hat trick in the team's 3-0 win over the Algerians.

How did Argentina qualify? 

The reigning world champions breezed through CONMEBOL qualification, becoming the first team to secure its place in this summer's tournament with four matches to spare back in March 2025, winning 12 of its 18 matches. 

Who is Argentina's manager?  

With two Copa América titles as well as a World Cup win, 48-year-old Lionel Scaloni now stands as Argentina's most successful head coach of all time. 

A pragmatic manager, Scaloni has tended to opt for a 4-3-3 formation that allows Messi free rein, while also emphasizing an aggressive press when out of possession. 

Who is Argentina's key player?  

38-year-old Messi remains Argentina's figurehead and has plenty of incentive to further etch his name into soccer history.  

The Inter Miami star is closing in on Germany's Miroslav Klose record for the most goals in World Cup history. The former Barcelona and PSG star drew level with Klose's tally of 16 with his hat-trick in Argentina's win over Algeria in the La Albiceleste tournament opener. 

With France's 26-year-old Kylian Mbappé currently on 14 tournament goals, Messi will be aiming to extend that record as far as he can in what is set to be his final appearance on soccer's biggest stage. 

Who is Argentina's young player to watch? 

With Argentina boasting a solid midfield trio of Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister, and Rodrigo De Paul, it's unlikely that Como's 21-year-old Nico Paz is likely to get too much of a look in during this summer's tournament. 

The promising young playmaker nevertheless points to his country's future, and will unlikely let his nation down should he be called upon during the tournament, given his maturity. 

Twelve goals and seven assists in Serie A last term could mean a big-money transfer could be on the cards this summer to one of European soccer's elite clubs, with Arsenal and Real Madrid both reported to be interested in signing the Spanish-born starlet.

Argentina's full 2026 World Cup squad 

Goalkeepers

• Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa)
• Gerónimo Rulli (Olympique de Marseille)
• Juan Musso (Atlético de Madrid)

Defenders

• Leonardo Balerdi (Olympique de Marseille)
• Gonzalo Montiel (River Plate)
• Lisandro Martínez (Manchester United)
• Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur)
• Nicolás Otamendi (Benfica)
• Facundo Medina (Olympique de Marseille)
• Nahuel Molina (Atlético de Madrid)
• Nicolás Tagliafico (Olympique Lyonnais)

Midfielders

• Leandro Paredes (Boca Juniors)
• Rodrigo De Paul (Inter Miami)
• Valentín Barco (RC Strasbourg)
• Giovani Lo Celso (Real Betis)
• Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen)
• Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool)
• Enzo Fernández (Chelsea)
• Nicolás González (Atlético de Madrid)
  

Forwards

• Julián Álvarez (Atlético de Madrid)
• Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)
• Thiago Almada (Atlético de Madrid)
• Giuliano Simeone (Atlético de Madrid)
• Nico Paz (Como)
• José Manuel López (Palmeiras)
• Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan)

Argentina's World Cup 2026 Group J fixture list and US TV schedule

Tuesday, June 16
Argentina 3-0 Algeria
Stadium: Kansas City Stadium (Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri)

Monday, June 22
Argentina vs. Austria
Kickoff: 1:00 p.m. ET/10:00 a.m. PT
Stadium: Dallas Stadium (AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas)
US TV: Fox/Telemundo

Saturday, June 27
Argentina vs. Jordan
Kickoff: 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT
Stadium: Dallas Stadium (AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas)
US TV: Fox/Telemundo

How to watch the 2026 World Cup using a VPN for free

If you're traveling abroad and want to keep up with all the World Cup action while away from home, a VPN can help enhance your privacy and security when streaming. 

It encrypts your traffic and prevents your internet service provider from throttling your speeds. Additionally, it can be helpful when connecting to public Wi-Fi networks while traveling, providing an extra layer of protection for your devices and logins. VPNs are legal in many countries, including the US and Canada, and can be used for legitimate purposes such as improving online privacy and security. 

Read more: You Can Stream Every FIFA 2026 World Cup Match With a VPN. Here's How

However, some streaming services may have policies that restrict VPN use for accessing region-specific content. If you're considering a VPN for streaming, check the platform's terms of service to ensure compliance. 

If you choose to use a VPN, follow the provider's installation instructions to ensure you're connected securely and in compliance with applicable laws and service agreements. Some streaming platforms may block access when a VPN is detected, so verifying if your streaming subscription allows VPN use is crucial.

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How to livestream Argentina's 2026 World Cup matches in the US

Exclusive English live broadcast rights for every World Cup 2026 match are with Fox, with games to be shown on Fox and FS1. If you don't have access to either channel in your cable lineup, there are several alternatives. A number of major live TV streaming services, such as YouTube TV and Hulu Plus Live TV, carry both channels, but the cheapest option for most cord-cutters is the Fox One streaming app.

Fox's direct-to-consumer streaming service launched in August last year. Fox One costs $20 a month or $200 a year and gives you access to Fox's complete TV portfolio, including sports-related channels such as Fox Deportes, Fox Sports, B1G, FS1, FS2 and local Fox stations.

You can watch Fox and FS1 on Fubo via the service's $74-per-month Pro Plan. Click here to see which local channels you get in your region with Fubo.

DirecTV's MySports genre package includes access to both channels. If you're a new customer, you can get a discounted rate of $50 a month for your first two months, before the cost reverts to $70 a month. You can use its channel lookup tool to see which local channels are available where you live.

Livestream Argentina's 2026 World Cup matches in the US in Spanish 

Spanish-language broadcast rights in the US are with NBCUniversal, with Telemundo set to show 92 games, and the remaining 12 will be broadcast on Universo. All content will be available to stream on Peacock, with the service set to offer Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos sound. 

Peacock currently costs $11 per month for the ad-supported Peacock Premium plan and $17 per month for the ad-free Peacock Premium Plus plan.