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By Vikram Iyer — 28 June 2026 — 4 min read

Argentina prepared for the World Cup knockout stage with a 3-1 victory over Jordan in Dallas. The reigning world champions had already secured qualification for the next round prior to the match. Their upcoming fixture is against Cape Verde in Miami on July 3.

Coach Lionel Scaloni made significant changes to the starting lineup, with nine alterations from the previous match. Lionel Messi was among the players rested, starting the game on the bench. Despite the changes, Argentina took the lead in the 19th minute when Giovani Lo Celso scored from a direct free-kick, a goal assisted by what was described as questionable goalkeeping from Jordan’s Yazeed Abulaila. Shortly after the half-hour mark, Lautaro Martínez extended Argentina’s lead from the penalty spot.

Jordan, though already eliminated from the tournament, managed to threaten periodically throughout the game. They scored their only goal 10 minutes into the second half, courtesy of Mousa Tamari. Following Jordan’s goal, Messi was introduced into the match. He subsequently scored from a direct free-kick with 10 minutes remaining, marking his sixth goal of the current tournament and his 19th overall in World Cups. This goal also made him the first player in World Cup history to score in seven consecutive games.

Messi’s Continued Record-Breaking Form

Messi’s appearance in Dallas was highly anticipated, with many supporters speculating on when he would enter the game. Scaloni had previously indicated that Messi would be rested for this final group game but confirmed he would feature as a substitute. After replacing Martínez, Messi had a couple of early opportunities, including a decent attempt from a free-kick. He eventually found the back of the net from a free-kick, a moment that led to a significant crowd reaction.

This latest goal extends Messi’s scoring streak to seven consecutive World Cup matches, surpassing previous records held by Just Fontaine and Jairzinho. His scoring run began in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where he scored in the Round of 16, followed by penalty goals in the quarter-final and semi-final against the Netherlands and Croatia, respectively. He also converted a penalty in the final against France and added another goal in extra-time during that match.

In the current tournament, Messi started his campaign with a hat-trick against Algeria and then scored a brace against Austria. The brace against Austria also saw him break the all-time World Cup goal-scoring record previously held by Miroslav Klose. His free-kick against Jordan brought his total World Cup goal tally to 19.

Argentina’s Favorable Path to the Semi-Finals

The match against Jordan was described as a low-stakes affair, given Argentina’s qualification as group winners and Jordan’s prior elimination. The atmosphere in Dallas, where Argentina has played twice and many fans have based themselves, was more akin to a friendly send-off than a competitive World Cup fixture, with a significant majority of the crowd supporting the defending champions.

The third round of group games has reportedly set up a favorable pathway for Argentina. Their upcoming Round of 32 match in Miami will be against Cape Verde, a fixture considered less intense than a potential encounter with rivals Uruguay. Cape Verde has been noted as a feel-good story of the competition but has not won a game in the tournament.

Following the match against Cape Verde, Argentina could face either Australia or Egypt. While Australia posed challenges in the previous World Cup and Egypt features Mohamed Salah, neither team is expected to significantly trouble the world champions. The most likely quarter-final opponents for Argentina are Colombia or Switzerland. This suggests that Argentina has not only had an easy group draw but also a favorable bracket, potentially allowing them to reach the semi-finals without encountering a team with a strong chance of winning the World Cup.

For Jordan, despite not securing any points, they managed to score in all three of their World Cup games, including Mousa Tamari’s goal against Argentina. They concluded their tournament without feeling out of place.

Player Performances and Future Considerations

In the game against Jordan, only two players from Argentina’s 2-0 win over Austria retained their starting spots: Emiliano Martínez in goal and Lautaro Martínez up front. Lautaro Martínez scored from the penalty spot and later hit the crossbar with a long-range shot.

Among the other players, Lo Celso was effective in the first half, scoring the opener and having another goal disallowed for offside. Nico Paz, a playmaker from Como, also stood out with his performance. Paz, described as a tall and imposing figure, demonstrated good ball retention despite facing physical challenges from the Jordan defense. His creative but inexperienced style could be a consideration for Scaloni in future games, especially given the nature of Argentina’s next match.

The performance of Julian Alvarez, who replaced Lautaro Martínez, was quiet. There has been ongoing speculation, reportedly fueled by Alvarez himself, regarding a potential transfer away from Atletico Madrid. This situation could be a concern for Scaloni regarding Alvarez’s focus on the tournament. Messi scored his sixth goal of the tournament late in the second half against Jordan.

Source: nytimes.com