Argentina World Cup 2026 Squad: Final 26-Player List
The Argentina World Cup 2026 Squad has carried the defending champions all the way to the semi-finals. Lionel Scaloni’s 26-man roster, announced on May 28, 2026, faces England in Atlanta on Wednesday, July 15, for a place in the final.
Captain Lionel Messi leads the Golden Boot race with eight goals at his record sixth World Cup.
Argentina won Group J with a perfect nine points, then survived three one-goal knockout wins over Cabo Verde, Egypt and Switzerland. La Albiceleste are now two victories from back-to-back titles, something no men’s team has managed since Brazil in 1958 and 1962.
Scaloni kept the core that won in Qatar, and the decision has paid off: Argentina enter the semi-final ranked No. 1 in the world after overtaking Spain and France in the June 2026 FIFA rankings.
Argentina Quick Facts:
- Country: Argentina
- Confederation: CONMEBOL
- Nickname: La Albiceleste
- Head Coach: Lionel Scaloni
- Captain: Lionel Messi
- Group: Group J (winners with 9 points from 3 matches)
- Group Opponents: Algeria, Austria, Jordan
- Semi-Final: England vs Argentina, July 15, 2026, Atlanta Stadium, 3:00 PM ET
- Top Scorer: Lionel Messi, 8 goals (leads the 2026 Golden Boot race)
- FIFA Ranking: 1st (as of June 11, 2026)
- World Cup Appearance: 19th
- Kit Manufacturer: Adidas
Argentina World Cup 2026 Squad: Full 26-Player List
Goalkeepers
- Emiliano Martínez, 33, Aston Villa (England)
- Gerónimo Rulli, 34, Olympique Marseille (France)
- Juan Musso, 32, Atlético de Madrid (Spain)
Defenders
- Leonardo Balerdi, 27, Olympique Marseille (France)
- Nicolás Tagliafico, 33, Olympique Lyon (France)
- Gonzalo Montiel, 29, River Plate (Argentina)
- Lisandro Martínez, 28, Manchester United (England)
- Cristian Romero, 28, Tottenham Hotspur (England)
- Nicolás Otamendi, 38, Benfica (Portugal)
- Facundo Medina, 27, Olympique Marseille, on loan from RC Lens (France)
- Nahuel Molina, 28, Atlético de Madrid (Spain)
Midfielders
- Leandro Paredes, 32, Boca Juniors (Argentina)
- Rodrigo De Paul, 32, Inter Miami (USA)
- Valentín Barco, 21, Racing Strasbourg (France)
- Giovani Lo Celso, 30, Real Betis (Spain)
- Exequiel Palacios, 27, Bayer Leverkusen (Germany)
- Alexis Mac Allister, 27, Liverpool (England)
- Enzo Fernández, 25, Chelsea (England)
Forwards
- Julián Álvarez, 26, Atlético de Madrid (Spain)
- Lionel Messi (C), 39, Inter Miami (USA)
- Nicolás González, 28, Atlético de Madrid, on loan from Juventus (Spain)
- Thiago Almada, 25, Atlético de Madrid (Spain)
- Giuliano Simeone, 23, Atlético de Madrid (Spain)
- Nico Paz, 21, Como (Italy)
- Juan Manuel López, 25, Palmeiras (Brazil)
- Lautaro Martínez, 28, Internazionale (Italy)
The squad spans 18 years from Lionel Messi, who turned 39 during the tournament, down to Valentín Barco and Nico Paz at 21. The Qatar-winning core anchors the group: only eight players are at their first World Cup, and nine of the 26 are 30 or older.
Atlético de Madrid supplied six players, more than any other club: Juan Musso, Nahuel Molina, Julián Álvarez, Nicolás González, Thiago Almada and Giuliano Simeone. The Premier League adds five through Manchester United, Tottenham, Liverpool, Chelsea and Aston Villa, while Ligue 1 contributes five more.
Argentina World Cup 2026 Results: Road to the Semi-Final
Argentina have won all six matches at the tournament so far, though three of them needed late drama or extra time. Kickoff times are Eastern Time (ET).
| Stage | Match | Result | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group J | Argentina vs Algeria | 3-0 | June 16, 2026 |
| Group J | Argentina vs Austria | 3-2 | June 22, 2026 |
| Group J | Jordan vs Argentina | 1-3 | June 27, 2026 |
| Round of 32 | Argentina vs Cabo Verde | 3-2 (AET) | July 3, 2026 |
| Round of 16 | Argentina vs Egypt | 3-2 | July 7, 2026 |
| Quarter-Final | Argentina vs Switzerland | 3-1 (AET) | July 11, 2026 |
| Semi-Final | England vs Argentina | 3:00 PM ET | July 15, 2026 |
Messi opened the tournament with a hat-trick against Algeria and broke Miroslav Klose’s all-time World Cup scoring record with two goals against Austria, before his free kick against Jordan sealed top spot in the group.
The knockout stage has been harder work. Cabo Verde forced extra time in the Round of 32, and Egypt led 2-0 until the 79th minute of the Round of 16 before Cristian Romero, Messi and Enzo Fernández completed a stunning comeback.
In the quarter-final, Julián Álvarez’s 25-yard strike in extra time settled a 3-1 win over Switzerland.
Semi-Final Latest: Argentina vs England
England vs Argentina kicks off on Wednesday, July 15, 2026 at Atlanta Stadium (Mercedes-Benz Stadium) at 3:00 PM ET (4:00 PM ART). It is the first World Cup meeting between the two nations since 2002, reviving one of the tournament’s fiercest rivalries.
Team news favours Argentina: nobody is suspended, as yellow cards were wiped after the quarter-finals. Messi is expected to start despite taking a blow near his right eye against Switzerland, and Cristian Romero, withdrawn during extra time in that match, confirmed his substitution was fatigue rather than injury.
England reached the last four by beating Norway 2-1 after extra time, though they will be without the suspended Jarell Quansah and the injured Jordan Henderson. The winner in Atlanta advances to the final on Sunday, July 19 at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey, against France or Spain, who contest the other semi-final in Dallas on July 14.
Manager: Lionel Scaloni
Lionel Scaloni, 48, took charge as caretaker after Argentina’s 2018 World Cup exit and was confirmed permanently in November 2018. He is the first coach to win a World Cup with Argentina without previously managing a senior club side.
As a player he won the 1999-2000 La Liga title with Deportivo de la Coruña and had spells at Lazio, West Ham United, Atalanta and Mallorca before retiring in 2015. As Argentina coach he has won three consecutive major trophies (Copa América 2021, the 2022 World Cup and Copa América 2024), the most successful run by any Argentina manager. His AFA contract runs through this tournament.
Scaloni’s 4-3-3 uses one holding midfielder and two box-to-box runners, compressing quickly out of possession and opening through Messi’s half-space movement with the ball. The system has won everything available, and at this World Cup it has ground out results even on off nights.
Star Player: Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi turned 39 on June 24, 2026, mid-tournament, and is producing one of the great farewell World Cups. Playing at a record sixth finals, the Inter Miami forward leads the Golden Boot race with eight goals: a hat-trick against Algeria, two against Austria, and one each against Jordan, Cabo Verde and Egypt.
The brace against Austria carried him past Miroslav Klose’s all-time World Cup record of 16 goals; his tally now stands at 21 across six tournaments. Along the way he became the first player to score in seven consecutive World Cup matches, a streak he stretched to nine before it ended against Switzerland. He has also passed 200 caps for Argentina and now has 125 international goals, second only to Cristiano Ronaldo.
Messi arrived in form, having led Inter Miami to the 2025 MLS Cup and scored his 900th career goal in March 2026. In Scaloni’s system he starts from the right channel and drifts into half-spaces, with Lautaro Martínez pinning centre-backs and Julián Álvarez running beyond.
The only flicker of doubt over whether Messi plays in Atlanta is the swelling around his right eye from the Switzerland quarter-final. He played on after treatment, and Argentina expect him to start against England.
Key Players to Watch
Nico Paz
Nico Paz, 21, joined Como from Real Madrid in 2024 and became one of Serie A’s most impressive young midfielders. The River Plate academy product is the creative changeup in a midfield where Mac Allister and De Paul cover the defensive ground: the one who finds space between the lines and makes opponents adjust.
Emiliano Martínez
Emiliano Martínez, 33, has been Argentina’s No. 1 since the Copa América 2021 run and won the Golden Glove at Qatar 2022. Behind a defence that conceded just 10 goals in 18 qualifiers, his shot-stopping and organisation remain Argentina’s insurance policy. In knockout football he has been close to unbeatable.
Alexis Mac Allister
Alexis Mac Allister, 27, headed Argentina in front inside ten minutes of the quarter-final against Switzerland. The Liverpool midfielder is the engine of Scaloni’s side, covering more ground than anyone in the squad, and Argentina simply don’t press as well without him.
Qualification Path & World Cup History
Argentina topped CONMEBOL qualifying with 12 wins, two draws and four losses from 18 matches, scoring 31 goals and conceding 10 to book their place on March 25, 2025. A 4-1 home win over Brazil was the highlight of a campaign that showed their attacking depth even when Messi rotated.
This is Argentina’s 19th World Cup. Their all-time tournament record of 47 wins, 17 draws and 24 losses before 2026 places them among the sport’s elite, with three titles (1978, 1986 and 2022), fourth on the winners’ list behind Brazil (five), Germany (four) and Italy (four).
A fourth star in New Jersey would equal Germany and Italy and complete the first title defence since 1962.
What to Expect & Our Prediction
Argentina’s attack has delivered in every round, but the pattern is a warning: extra time against Cabo Verde and Switzerland, and a near-elimination against Egypt. Six games in 25 days have tested the tournament’s oldest core, and England’s press will ask questions of ageing legs in midfield.
Even so, the champions have Messi in the best World Cup scoring form of his career, Emiliano Martínez behind them, and a fully available squad. We expect a tight semi-final decided by fine margins, with Argentina edging it to set up a shot at a fourth title in the July 19 final against France or Spain. This prediction reflects the opinion of WCW Staff.
Argentina World Cup 2026 Squad FAQs
How many goals has Messi scored at the 2026 World Cup?
Messi has scored eight goals at the 2026 World Cup, leading the Golden Boot race: a hat-trick against Algeria, two against Austria, and one each against Jordan, Cabo Verde and Egypt. His all-time World Cup tally now stands at 21, having broken Miroslav Klose’s record of 16 during the group stage.
When is Argentina’s World Cup 2026 semi-final?
Argentina face England in the semi-final on Wednesday, July 15, 2026 at Atlanta Stadium, kicking off at 3:00 PM ET (4:00 PM ART). The winner meets France or Spain in the final on Sunday, July 19 at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey.
Who is the oldest player in Argentina’s 2026 World Cup squad?
Lionel Messi is now the oldest player after turning 39 on June 24, 2026, during the tournament. Nicolás Otamendi, 38, is the oldest defender; the Benfica centre-back has anchored Argentina’s back line since 2010 and remains central to their defensive stability.
Who is the youngest player in Argentina’s squad?
Nico Paz is the youngest player at 21, born September 8, 2004, just ahead of left-back Valentín Barco, also 21, born July 23, 2004. Barco came through Boca Juniors and moved to Racing Strasbourg in France, giving Scaloni a quicker option to the experienced Nicolás Tagliafico.
Who were the notable omissions from Argentina’s squad?
Franco Mastantuono, the teenage Real Madrid midfielder named in the preliminary squad, was the most surprising omission from the final 26. Veteran left-back Marcos Acuña, a 2022 World Cup winner, also missed the cut.
When did Argentina last win the World Cup?
Argentina won the World Cup at Qatar 2022, beating France 4-2 on penalties after a 3-3 draw in one of the greatest finals ever played. It was their third title after 1978 and 1986. In 2026 they are two wins away from a fourth.
The Argentina World Cup 2026 Squad now stands two wins from footballing history: a fourth title and the first successful defence since 1962.
With a 39-year-old captain in record-breaking form, a settled champion core and the No. 1 world ranking, England in Atlanta is the next test, and nobody is taking La Albiceleste lightly.
