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Argentina vs Austria FIFA World Cup: The biggest blockbuster match of Group J in the FIFA World Cup 2026 is set to take place tonight. Defending champions Argentina (Albiceleste) will face one of Europe's most disciplined teams, Austria (Das Team), at the AT&T Stadium (Dallas Stadium) in Arlington, USA. This intense clash between the top two teams of Group J will kick off live tonight, June 22, 2026, at 10:30 PM IST.
Both teams enter this match fresh off resounding victories in their opening games. Argentina crushed Algeria 3–0, thanks to a magical hat-trick by Lionel Messi, while Austria secured 3 points by defeating Jordan 3–1. The winner of today's match will directly qualify for the knockout stage (Round of 32).
Argentina vs Austria Match Preview
Under the guidance of head coach Lionel Scaloni, world champions Argentina are currently in unstoppable form. Playing in his final World Cup, 38-year-old Lionel Messi proved with his opening-match hat-trick that he is impossible to contain. The midfield duo of Enzo Fernández and Alexis Mac Allister will control the game, while Julián Álvarez will partner with Messi in the attack.
On the other hand, Austria's head coach Ralf Rangnick is renowned for his aggressive "Gegenpressing" (relentless high-press) strategy. Making its return to the World Cup after 28 years, the Austrian team will step onto the field aiming to pull off a major upset. The team boasts the defensive strength of captain David Alaba and the power of Marcel Sabitzer in midfield, who is set to play his 100th international match.
Argentina vs Austria Predicted Playing 11 & Lineups
Argentina's Probable Playing 11 (Formation: 4-3-3)
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| Position | Player Name |
|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Emiliano Martínez |
| Defenders | Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martínez, Facundo Medina |
| Midfielders | Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister |
| Forwards | Lionel Messi, Julián Álvarez, Thiago Almada |
Also Read: FIFA World Cup 2026 Schedule: Today and Tomorrow Match List, Timings & Venues
Austria's Probable Playing 11 (Formation: 4-2-3-1)
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| Position | Player Name |
|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Alexander Schlager |
| Defenders | Konrad Laimer, Philipp Lienhart, David Alaba, Phillipp Mwene |
| Defensive Midfielders | Nicolas Seiwald, Xaver Schlager |
| Attacking Midfielders | Romano Schmid, Carney Chukwuemeka, Marcel Sabitzer |
| Striker | Saša Kalajdžić |
Argentina vs Austria Match Prediction
This contest will primarily be a battle between Austria's dangerous high-press and Argentina's passing game. Ralf Rangnick's team will attempt to put pressure on Messi and De Paul right from the start. However, Argentina possesses vast experience in playing their way out of pressure. Messi's presence and the team's current balance will pose the ultimate test for Austria's backline.
Who will win the Argentina vs Austria match?
As the reigning world champions and considering their recent performance, Argentina are the strong favorites to win this match. Supercomputer prediction data also indicates that Argentina has a winning probability of around 66.4%.
Our Prediction: Argentina could win this match 2-1 or 3-1. Lionel Messi might score again today and secure a spot in the knockout stage for his team.
Also Read: FIFA World Cup 2026: Morocco Breaks Italy & Argentina Unbeaten Record
