Argentina World Cup 2026 Squad
FIFA ARG · Group J · Head coach: Lionel Sebastiánscaloni Scaloni
Defending champions attempting what no nation has done since Brazil in 1962. back-to-back World Cups. Lionel Messi's final tournament adds emotional weight to an experienced core that knows how to win knockout football. FIFA confirmed the squad on 2026-06-03. Argentina travel with 26 players in Group J, and the table below mirrors the official PDF with every shirt number and club.
Group J with Algeria, Austria and debutants Jordan. manageable on paper, but Austria's UEFA quality and Algeria's physicality can steal points if Argentina rotate heavily. Lionel Sebastiánscaloni Scaloni leads the side with a clear tactical identity: 4-4-2 / 4-3-3 hybrid with compact mid-block out of possession and rapid vertical transitions through Lautaro Martínez and Julián Álvarez. World Cup winners' mentality in tight games.
Strong CONMEBOL qualifying despite occasional inconsistency. Argentina's depth allowed rotation without dropping points against Bolivia and Venezuela at altitude. 2022. champions (beat France on penalties); also finalists 2014, champions 1978 and 1986. FIFA's published shirt names include MARTÍNEZ, MAC ALLISTER, E. FERNÁNDEZ and J. ALVAREZ among the 26 call-ups. 7 players were listed with Spanish clubs at submission. Goalkeeper No. 1 MUSSO (Atlético De Madrid (ESP)) anchors the defensive unit on the sheet. North African grit and set-piece power. Argentina cannot afford complacency in match two. Title favourites alongside France and Spain. repeat champions if fitness holds through seven matches.
Official squad list (26 players)
| # | POS | Name on shirt | Club |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GK | MUSSO | Atlético De Madrid (ESP) |
| 2 | DF | BALERDI | Olympique Marseille (FRA) |
| 3 | DF | TAGLIAFICO | Olympique Lyonnais (FRA) |
| 4 | DF | MONTIEL | CA River Plate (ARG) |
| 5 | MF | PAREDES | CA Boca Juniors (ARG) |
| 6 | DF | MARTÍNEZ | Manchester United FC (ENG) |
| 7 | MF | DE PAUL | Inter Miami CF (USA) |
| 8 | MF | BARCO | RC Strasbourg (FRA) |
| 9 | FW | J. ALVAREZ | Atlético De Madrid (ESP) |
| 10 | FW | MESSI | Inter Miami CF (USA) |
| 11 | MF | LO CELSO | Real Betis (ESP) |
| 12 | GK | RULLI | Olympique Marseille (FRA) |
| 13 | DF | ROMERO | Tottenham Hotspur FC (ENG) |
| 14 | MF | PALACIOS | Bayer Leverkusen (GER) |
| 15 | MF | N. GONZÁLEZ | Atlético De Madrid (ESP) |
| 16 | FW | ALMADA | Atlético De Madrid (ESP) |
| 17 | FW | SIMEONE | Atlético De Madrid (ESP) |
| 18 | FW | NICO PAZ | Como (ITA) |
| 19 | DF | OTAMENDI | SL Ben ca (POR) |
| 20 | MF | MAC ALLISTER | Liverpool FC (ENG) |
| 21 | FW | LOPEZ | SE Palmeiras (BRA) |
| 22 | FW | L. MARTÍNEZ | FC Internazionale Milano (ITA) |
| 23 | GK | E. MARTÍNEZ | Aston Villa FC (ENG) |
| 24 | MF | E. FERNÁNDEZ | Chelsea FC (ENG) |
| 25 | DF | MEDINA | Olympique Marseille (FRA) |
| 26 | DF | MOLINA | Atlético De Madrid (ESP) |
Source: FIFA squad list published 2026-06-03. GK — Goalkeeper; DF — Defender; MF — Midfielder; FW — Forward.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many players are defending champions Argentina taking to World Cup 2026?
The Albiceleste registered 26 players on 2026-06-03 as reigning champions from Qatar 2022. Lionel Messi's last World Cup cycle sits in Group J with Algeria, Austria and debutants Jordan, and the full FIFA sheet is listed above.
Who is Argentina's head coach at the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
Lionel Sebastiánscaloni Scaloni (Argentina) is the head coach on FIFA's published roster. 4-4-2 / 4-3-3 hybrid with compact mid-block out of possession and rapid vertical transitions through Lautaro Martínez and Julián Álvarez. World Cup winners' mentality in tight games.
Who does Argentina play in the 2026 World Cup group stage?
Argentina face Algeria, Austria and Jordan in Group J. Group J with Algeria, Austria and debutants Jordan. manageable on paper, but Austria's UEFA quality and Algeria's physicality can steal points if Argentina rotate heavily. North African grit and set-piece power. Argentina cannot afford complacency in match two.
Where is the full Argentina World Cup 2026 roster table?
Every shirt number, NAME ON SHIRT, club, height and date of birth for all 26 call-ups is on the official Argentina squad page linked in this article. The blog focuses on analysis; the roster page has the sortable FIFA table.
What does NAME ON SHIRT mean on Argentina's FIFA list?
NAME ON SHIRT is the exact text FIFA registers for the back of the jersey. It can differ from passport names (abbreviations, accents, or nicknames). Use the official squad page to match each player's number to their shirt name.