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By Vikram Iyer — 28 June 2026 — 3 min read

The FIFA World Cup 2026 Group J match between Jordan and Argentina is currently underway at the Dallas Stadium in Arlington. The tournament, which commenced on June 10, is scheduled to conclude with the final on July 20.

Argentina, having already secured their place in the knockout stages, has opted to rest their captain, Lionel Messi, for this fixture. Messi, who holds the record as the leading goalscorer in World Cup history, will begin the match on the bench. However, a cameo appearance from the bench remains a strong possibility, as he may seek to further improve his goal tally.

For Jordan, this match is crucial. It is a must-win encounter if they are to maintain any hopes of qualifying for the knockout rounds. Jordan is participating in the World Cup for the first time and has lost its initial two matches in the group stage.

Messi’s World Cup Record and Potential Appearance

Lionel Messi, widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, has been a central figure for Argentina throughout the tournament. He scored all five goals for Argentina in their first two group matches, bringing his total World Cup goals to 18 across his six World Cups.

In a 3-0 victory over Algeria, Messi achieved his first-ever World Cup hat-trick, which tied the career scoring record of 16 goals previously held by Miroslav Klose of Germany. He then surpassed this record with goals in a 2-0 win against Austria. Kylian Mbappé of France also matched Klose’s record with two goals in a 3-0 win over Iraq.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni confirmed that Messi would start on the bench but indicated that he “will come in a little bit later.” Scaloni did not specify when Messi might enter the game or the full lineup for the match against Jordan.

Messi has made 201 international appearances for Argentina, including a FIFA-record 28 World Cup matches. He has also scored in six consecutive World Cup games, a feat only matched by France striker Just Fontaine and Brazil great Jairzinho.

Team Strategy and Knockout Stage Outlook

Argentina is aiming to go undefeated in group play for the fifth time, a streak they last achieved in 2014. With their spot in the knockout stage already secured, the team is expected to rotate some of its key players. Besides Messi, goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez could be the only regular starter in the lineup, with several new faces potentially featuring.

Nicolás Paz, who made his World Cup debut as a substitute for Messi in the opener against Algeria, is now anticipated to start in his place. Coach Scaloni expressed confidence that the team would maintain its playing style despite the changes. “The hope is that the team will play the same way. That’s what we’re going to try to do,” Scaloni stated.

Scaloni also acknowledged the challenge posed by their opponents. “Jordan is a good opponent, and we’re not taking anything for granted. We’ll try to tweak some aspects of the last match, but with the same intention of controlling the ball and dominating the opponent.”

The knockout round for Argentina is scheduled to commence next Friday in South Florida. In this expanded 48-team tournament, if Argentina reaches the final on July 19, they could play five matches in 17 days during the knockout stage.

Messi had been managing a minor hamstring injury with Inter Miami of Major League Soccer leading up to the World Cup, though there have been no recent indications of issues.

The match at Dallas Stadium is part of a tournament that began on June 10, 2026.

Source: thehindu.com