Argentina 2026 World Cup Team Preview, Betting Odds, Predictions & Best Bets

By Anthony Blanco | May 15, 2026, 7:00pm

The reigning world champions return to defend their crown as the Argentina national football team travels to North America for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Argentina will attempt to become just the third country to win consecutive tournaments and the first since the Brazil national football team did it in 1958 and 1962.

Lionel Scaloni’s squad, led by captain Lionel Messi, enters the tournament with the fifth- lowest odds to lift the trophy. Argentina’s strongest XI will likely feature many of the same faces from the previous tournament, apart from legendary attacker Angel di Maria, who retired from international play following the 2022 victory.

Will La Albiceleste come out on top once again? Let’s break down Argentina’s 2026 World Cup team preview, predictions, and best bets below.

Argentina 2026 World Cup Betting Odds

To Win World Cup:
To Reach Final:
To Reach Semifinal:
To Reach Quarterfinal:
To Win Group J:
To Advance From Group:
Group: Group J
FIFA Rank: 3

Argentina enters the tournament as a relatively big long shot (+700) to hoist the trophy for the fourth time in the country’s history. Despite keeping much of the core from last tournament intact, oddsmakers still predict France, Spain, England, and Brazil all have a better chance of winning it all this year than the reigning champions.

Scaloni’s squad is equally unexpected to reach the 2026 World Cup Final (+400). Most books have the aging Argentina squad seemingly exiting around the quarterfinals based on the country’s odds. Even to reach the semifinal, Argentina is around +200 in most books.

Argentina 2026 World Cup Best Bet

The reigning World Champions seem to be flying under the radar as we enter the tournament. It seems the overall stigma surrounding the team is that the players are all four years older, and Scaloni is hesitant to feature some of the country’s younger talent while the veterans are still available.

While there may be some validity to that, Argentina’s experience will far outweigh that of those teams listed above them. Scaloni’s squad is still talented enough to make a run deep into the knockout rounds, depending on the way the bracket ends up.

Many of Argentina’s older players are still in top form, including Messi, who leads the MLS in goal contributions 13 games into the American top-flight season. With this likely being the country legends’ final World Cup, you can expect a concerted effort by all players to try and repeat last tournament’s success.

Best Bet: Argentina to Reach Quarterfinal

Argentina 2026 World Cup Players to Watch

While all eyes will rightfully be on Lionel Messi, Argentina has a few young talents that you should watch in the 2026 World Cup.

Enzo Fernandez: The 2022 Young Player of the Tournament has become one of the world’s best midfielders over the past four years. Fernandez made a big career move following the previous tournament, moving from Benfica to Chelsea in a dramatic transfer saga back in 2022.

Since then, Chelsea’s number eight has helped lead the Blue Lions to a Conference League and Club World Cup title. Fernandez will be 25 at this year’s tournament and will likely play an even bigger role after growing into an exceptional player since we last saw him.

Julian Alvarez: Alvarez played a crucial role for Scaloni and Argentina as the country’s lead striker at just 22 years old. The Atletico Madrid attacker scored three knockout goals, helping lead Argentina to the final back in 2022.

Four years later, Alvarez is widely regarded as one of the top strikers in world football, if not the top. The free-kick specialist helped lead his club to a Champions League semifinal, finishing the tournament with the fourth-highest G/A (14) of all players.

Despite having some other solid options up top, expect Alvarez to lead the line in most of Argentina’s games this tournament.

Argentina World Cup History

Argentina successfully added its third star to its kit in 2022, 36 years after the second star was added. La Scaloneta avenged the 2018 team, which was eliminated by France in the Round of 16, by defeating Les Blues in one of the most exciting World Cup Finals of all time.

After beginning the tournament with a loss to Saudi Arabia, Argentina would remain perfect for the remainder of its games. Scaloni’s squad had a fairly easy time getting through the knockout rounds, apart from a classic match with the Netherlands in the quarterfinals. The South American team was up 2-0 in the 80th minute, but would blow the lead after a 90’ + 11 equalizer by the Dutch. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez would end up playing a crucial role in saving the Netherlands first two penalties, and seeing Argentina through to the semifinals.

El Dibu would go on to win the Golden Glove award after saving yet another penalty in the World Cup Final, leading his team to victory in the shootout.

Following the 2022 victory, Argentina dominated World Cup Qualifiers, winning 12 of the 18 matches in CONMEBOL play. Scaloni’s squad enters the tournament on a five-game win streak in international friendlies, with two left to play prior to the 2026 World Cup.

Photo Credit: AP/Martin Meissner

Anthony Blanco

Anthony is a journalist based in South Florida who specializes in sports content. He has covered the NFL, NBA, UFL, March Madness, the World Cup, the English Premier League, La Liga, and the Champions League.