The memory of what happened three-and-a-half years ago in Qatar is still fresh in the minds of Argentina’s players as they prepare to defend their World Cup at the 2026 tournament in the USA, Canada and Mexico.Many of the players who experienced World Cup glory in 2022 are still part of Lionel Scaloni’s squad. This includes Lionel Messi, who is set to participate in his sixth World Cup.Now 38, Messi might not be the force he was back then, but his recent form for Inter Miami suggests he will be a match-winner for La Albiceleste. Indeed, Messi signed off for the World Cup break with 12 goal contributions in five games.Messi and co. have good reason to feel bullish about their chances of becoming the first team since Brazil in 1962 to retain their World Cup crown, with Argentina 9/1 to get their hands on the famous trophy on July 19 in New Jersey.
Argentina finished top of CONMEBOL qualifying, winning 12 out of 18 matches and only losing four. They beat Brazil home and away and comfortably proved themselves as the best South America has to offer right now.Under Scaloni, Argentina have established a consistent style and approach. He wants his team to have the ball. No side had a higher average possession share in South American qualifying than La Albiceleste.However, Argentina’s passing comes with a purpose. They don’t waste much time building out from the back and instead choose to punch quick passes into the centre of the pitch where the likes of Enzo Fernández and Alexis Mac Allister can get turned.Julián Alvarez and Messi will also drop deep to get on the ball and from there Argentina like to have runners around their two most creative players. This is how they generate quick-transition moments from their extended periods of possession.By almost every metric, Messi was Argentina’s most influential player in qualifying. He finished the campaign with more goals and assists than any other Argentina figure, also topping the rankings for shots per 90 minutes and Big Chances created.Alvarez, however, has grown in influence for the national team. It was at the last World Cup where the forward, then at Manchester City, established himself as a first team figure at international level and he is expected to be Scaloni’s first-choice for this World Cup, too.Scaloni also has Lautaro Martínez as an option in the centre forward position while Giuliano Simeone, Nico Paz and Nico González will offer further depth in the attacking third. The likes of Ángel Di María, Paulo Dybala and a few other 2022 winners might not be in this squad, but Argentina still boast one of the strongest squads in the world.In central defence, 38-year-old Nicolás Otamendi is expected to partner Cristian Romero ahead of Lisandro Martínez while Emiliano Martínez will be Argentina’s starting goalkeeper, just as he was in 2022. Scaloni is counting on continuity holding things together at the back for the defending champions.Opta’s supercomputer has given Argentina a 10.4 per cent chance of winning the World Cup for the fourth time in their history. For context, Spain have been given a tournament-leading 16.1 per cent chance of lifting the World Cup. France and England also have a higher percentage than the 2022 winners.According to Opta, Argentina have 45.2 per cent chance of making the quarter-finals and a 30.3 per cent chance of reaching the final four. The odds suggest Scaloni’s team will be among those capable of making a deep run in the USA, Canada and Mexico.Drawn in Group J along with Algeria, Austria and Jordan, Argentina should comfortably make it through to the round of 32. In fact, it would be a surprise if Scaloni’s team did not finish top of the section, possibly with a game to spare. They are firm favourites in their group.Beyond that, Argentina will be at the mercy of the draw. The format of the expanded World Cup makes it almost impossible to project who La Albiceleste could face in the knockout rounds and what their potential route to the final could be.Nonetheless, Argentina have the quality and muscle memory of winning the World Cup to be among the serious contenders to go the distance again this summer.With Messi at the heart of everything they do, the ticker tape that flutters from the New Jersey sky on July 19 could be the same colour as that witnessed in Doha.Jun 11, 2026Connections: Sports EditionSpot the pattern. Connect the termsFind the hidden link between sports terms
