World Cup 2026 Group J
GROUP J
| Team | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts |
| Argentina | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 9 |
| Austria | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 4 |
| Algeria | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Jordan | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 0 |
Andy Greeves
[Team Jersey Images © Soccerphile]
Argentina
Argentina have enjoyed a golden decade so far, with their memorable triumph at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar sandwiched in between Copa América successes in 2021 and 2024.
La Selección are three-time world champions, having also won the World Cup in 1978 and 1986 while they were runners-up in the inaugural competition in 1930 and were also losing finalists in 1990 and 2014. Argentina have won 98 and drawn 44 of their 171 matches at the tournament finals to date, scoring 293 goals in the process.
Lionel Scaloni is one of the longest serving head coaches at this summer's World Cup, having been appointed as La Selección's manager in the summer of 2018. In addition to the three triumphs mentioned above, Scaloni also guided Argentina to a 3-0 victory over European champions Italy in the Finalissima at Wembley Stadium on 1 June 2022. He was named The Best FIFA Men's Coach for 2022.
Scaloni's side typically line up in either a 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 formation that has a perfect blend of defensive solidity and attacking flair.
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Argentina Kit 1 |
Argentina Kit 2 |
Argentina vs Algeria - June 16; Kansas City
Argentina vs Austria - June 22; Arlington
Jordan vs Argentina - June 27; Arlington
Coach
Coach: Lionel Scaloni
Record
Best World Cup: Winners in 1978, 1986 and 2022.
Formation
4-4-2 or 4-3-3
One to watch: Lionel Messi.
Appearing at his sixth World Cup this summer, Argentina captain Lionel Messi is his country's most capped player - with 198 senior international appearances at the time of writing - and their record goalscorer with 116 strikes so far. His importance to La Selección's cause was demonstrated once again in Argentina's 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign as he was the top scorer in the CONMEBOL section with eight goals.
The 38-year-old scored a staggering 672 goals in 778 appearances for Barcelona between 2004 and 2021, where he won 10 La Liga titles and the UEFA Champions League on four occasions with Barça. The current Inter Miami player has claimed the Ballon d'Or a record eight times to date.
Argentina are looking to become the first nation to retain World Cup trophy since Brazil in 1962. And who would bet against them?!
How they qualified
A few hours before their match against Brazil in Buenos Aires on 25 March 2025, Argentina had their qualification for their 19th World Cups finals sealed by virtue of Bolivia's goalless draw with Uruguay in El Alto. La Selección celebrated their qualification in style that night, beating Brazil 4-1 at the Estadio Monumental. They finished top of the CONMEBOL qualification league at its conclusion, winning 12, drawing two and losing just four fixtures.
On the sidelines
Along with Ecuador midfielder Moises Caicedo, Nicolás Otamendi recently had his suspension for the opening fixture of the World Cup overturned. This after FIFA amended its World Cup disciplinary rules to ensure that minor suspensions picked up in qualifiers are no longer carried over into the 2026 finals.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Juan Musso (Atletico Madrid), Geronimo Rulli (Marseille), Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa)
Defenders: Leonardo Balerdi (Marseille), Nicolas Tagliafico (Lyon), Gonzalo Montiel (River Plate), Lisandro Martinez (Manchester United), Cristian Romero (Tottenham), Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica), Facundo Medina (Marseille), Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid)
Midfielders: Leandro Paredes (River Plate), Rodrigo de Paul (Inter Miami), Valentin Barco (Strasbourg), Giovani lo Celso (Real Betis), Ezequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea)
Strikers: Julian Alvarez (Atletico Madrid), Lionel Messi (Inter Miami), Nicolas Gonzalez (Atletico Madrid), Thiago Almada (Atletico Madrid), Giuliano Simeone (Atletico Madrid), Nico Paz (Como), Jose Manuel Lopez (Palmeiras), Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan)
Algeria
Algeria were somewhat underwhelming at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations as they laboured to a 1-0 extra-time victory over DR Congo in the round of 16 before losing 2-0 to Nigeria in a one-sided quarter-final contest in Marrakesh.
The disappointment of their last-eight exit in Morocco came months after the jubilation of a 3-0 win in Somalia on 9 October 2025 that booked 'Les Verts' (the Greens) place at a World Cup finals for the first time since 2014. Their qualification campaign was spearheaded by VfL Wolfsburg striker Mohamed Amoura, who was the top scorer in the CAF qualifying region with 10 goals, including a hat-trick in the aforementioned victory over Somalia.
This summer marks Algeria's fifth World Cup appearance. They debuted at the competition finals in Spain in 1982 and appeared again at the 1986 tournament in Mexico but suffered elimination at the group stage on both occasions. That despite Les Verts winning two of their three matches in Group 2 of the 1982 World Cup.
They were also knocked out at the group stage in South Africa in 2010 before they finally reached the knockout phase in 2014.
A win over South Korea and a draw with Russia helped Les Verts to a second-place finish in Group H at the 2014 World Cup prior to a 2-1 extra-time defeat to eventual champions Germany in Brazil at the round of 16 stage.
With Amoura leading the line, ably assisted by the likes of Riyad Mahrez, Amine Gouiri and Ibrahim Maza, Algeria will certainly be an exciting watch at this summer's tournament.
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Algeria Kit 1 |
Algeria Kit 2 |
Argentina vs Algeria - June 16; Kansas City
Jordan vs Algeria - June 22; Santa Clara
Algeria vs Austria - June 27; Kansas City
Coach
Vladimir Petković
Record
Round of 16 in 2014.
Formation
4-2-3-1
One to watch: Riyad Mahrez
Debuting for Algeria back in 2014, France-born Riyad Mahrez has been Algeria's leading light for the last decade or so. In 2019, he captained Les Verts to glory at the Africa Cup of Nations. He scored one of the goals of the tournament with a curling free-kick in the last minute of their semi-final victory over Nigeria.
With 113 appearances and 38 goals for Algeria at the time of writing, Mahrez is close to becoming his country's all-time leading appearance maker and goal scorer. He is three caps short of Aïssa Mandi's appearance record while Islam Slimani currently leads the way on the goalscoring front with 45 strikes.
Algeria certainly have the ability to equal or better their run to the round of 16 at the 2014 World Cup.
How they qualified
Algeria won eight of their 10 qualification matches for this summer's World Cup, to finish top of CAF qualifying Group G. Les Verts suffered just one defeat, to Guinea on 6 June 2024, with they were involved in a goalless draw with the same opponents on 8 September 2025.
On the sidelines
Algeria are nicknamed the Les Fennecs (Fennec Foxes) or Les Verts (The Greens).
Squad
Goalkeepers: Oussama Benbot (USM Alger), Melvin Masstil (Stade Nyonnaise), Luca Zidane (Granada)
Defenders: Achraf Abada (USM Alger), Rayan Ait-Nouri (Manchester City), Zinedine Belaid (JS Kabylie), Rafik Belghali (Verona), Ramy Bensebaini (Borussia Dortmund), Samir Chergui (Paris FC), Jaouen Hadjam (Young Boys Bern), Aissa Mandi (Lille), Mohamed Amine Tougai (Esperance)
Midfielders: Houssem Aouar (Al-Ittihad), Nabil Bentaleb (Lille), Hicham Boudaoui (Nice), Fares Chaibi (Eintracht Frankfurt), Ibrahim Maza (Bayer Leverkusen), Yassine Titraoui (Charleroi), Ramiz Zerrouki (Twente)
Strikers: Mohamed Amine Amoura (Wolfsburg), Nadir Benbouali (Gyori ETO), Adil Boulbina (Al-Duhail), Fares Ghedjemis (Frosinone), Amine Gouiri (Marseille), Riyad Mahrez (Al-Ahli), Anis Hadj Moussa (Feyenoord)
Austria
For the first time in 28 years, Austria will grace a World Cup finals once again this summer.
Das Team made their World Cup debut at the 1934 tournament, where they suffered a 1-0 semi-final defeat to Italy on 3 June 1934, while they were beaten 3-2 by Germany in the third place play-off four days later.
Austria went one better on their second appearance in 1954, beating Uruguay 3-2 in the third place play-off. Das Team had been thrashed 6-1 by eventual champions West Germany in the semi-finals days earlier!
Das Team were eliminated at the group phase of the 1958 tournament while they made it to the second group stage in 1978 and 1982. They again failed to progress beyond the group stage of their two most recent World Cups in 1990 and 1998.
Former Manchester United manager Ralf Rangnick became head coach of Austria in April 2022. His first major international tournament as Austria boss came two years ago when his side topped Group D at UEFA Euro 2024 - ahead of France and the Netherlands - before going down to a 1-2 defeat to Türkiye in the round of 16.
Under Rangnick, Austria operate in a 4-2-3-1 formation which relies on an intense, synchronized high press. Veterans David Alaba, Marcel Sabitzer and Marko Arnautović provide the perfect spine for a vastly experienced Austria squad.
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Austria Kit 1 |
Austria Kit 2 |
Austria vs Jordan - June 16; Santa Clara
Argentina vs Austria - June 22; Arlington
Algeria vs Austria - June 27; Kansas City
Coach
Ralf Rangnick
Record
Third in 1954.
Formation
4-2-3-1
One to watch: Marko Arnautović
Marko Arnautović is Austria's record appearance maker and top, all-time goalscorer having won 130 caps and netted 47 time to date.
Arnautović, who celebrated his 38th birthday on 19 April, has previously featured for Austria at the European Championships in 2016, 2020 and 2024 but has yet to appear at a World Cup.
Austria versus Algeria on 27 June is likely to be a straight shootout for the runners-up spot in Group J.
How they qualified
Austria secured their place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup by topping UEFA qualifying Group H. They won six and drew one of their eight qualifying matches, with their only defeat coming in Romania on 12 October 2025. A 1-1 draw with Bosnia and Herzegovina in Vienna on 18 November 2025 sealed 'Das Team's' eighth World Cup qualification.
On the sidelines
Austria's most memorable performance at a World Cup finals came on 21 June 1978 when a Berti Vogts own-goal and a brace from Hans Kranki gave Das Team a 3-2 victory over rivals and then-world champions, West Germany. The victory is affectionately known by Austria fans as the 'Miracle of Córdoba'.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Patrick Pentz (Brondby), Alexander Schlager (RB Salzburg), Florian Wiegele (Viktoria Pilsen)
Defenders: David Affengruber (Elche), David Alaba (Real Madrid), Kevin Danso (Tottenham), Marco Friedl (Werder Bremen), Philipp Lienhart (Freiburg), Phillipp Mwene (Mainz), Stefan Posch (Mainz), Alexander Prass (Hoffenheim), Michael Svoboda (Venezia)
Midfielders: Christoph Baumgartner (RB Leipzig), Carney Chukwuemeka (Borussia Dortmund), Florian Grillitsch (Braga), Konrad Laimer (Bayern Munich), Marcel Sabitzer (Borussia Dortmund), Xaver Schlager (RB Leipzig), Romano Schmid (Werder Bremen), Alessandro Schopf (RZ Pellets WAC), Nicolas Seiwald (RB Leipzig), Paul Wanner (PSV Eindhoven), Patrick Wimmer (Wolfsburg)
Strikers: Marko Arnautovic (Red Star Belgrade), Michael Gregoritsch (Augsburg), Sasa Kalajdzic (LASK)
Jordan
Appointed as head coach back in June 2023, Hussein Ammouta oversaw the resurrection of the Jordan national team after a period of stagnation. This culminated in a run to the country's first Asian Cup Final on 24 February 2024, where the 'Chivalrous Ones' (Al Nashama) were beaten 3-1 by hosts Qatar.
Ammouta stepped down as head coach in June 2024 and was replaced by Jamal Sellami. It was Sellami who delivered Jordan's greatest footballing moment as a 3-0 victory in Oman on 5 June 2025 secured the Chivalrous Ones' qualification for their first-ever World Cup.
That same year, Sellami led Jordan to their first ever FIFA Arab Cup Final. Victories over the United Arab Emirates (2-1), Kuwait (3-1), Egypt (3-0), Iraq (1-0) and Saudi Arabia (1-0) saw the team take their place in the final of 18 December 2025.
Alas, they went down to a 3-2 extra-time defeat to Morocco in front of a crowd of 84,517 at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar. After that final, Morocco-born Sellami was granted with Jordanian citizenship by His Majesty Abdullah II.
Noor Al-Rawabdeh and Ali Olwan were Jordan's joint-top scorers in qualification with four goals apiece. Both players are likely to feature in an expansive team at this World Cup that usually sets-up in a 3-4-3 formation.
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Jordan Kit 1 |
Jordan Kit 2 |
Austria vs Jordan - June 16; Santa Clara
Jordan vs Algeria - June 22; Santa Clara
Jordan vs Argentina - June 27; Arlington
Coach
Jamal Sellami
Record
Best World Cup: No previous appearances.
Formation
3-4-3
One to watch: Ali Olwan
Ali Olwan scored a hat-trick in the aforementioned victory over Oman in June 2025 that sealed Jordan's place at their first World Cup finals. The 26-year-old Al-Sailiya forward is a typical 'number nine', who plays on the shoulder of the last defender. With 29 goals in 64 appearances for Jordan to date, he is closing in on Hamza Al-Dardour's all-time record of 33 strikes for the Chivalrous Ones.
One of the tournament's rank outsiders, Jordan have already made history by just qualifying for this World Cup.
How they qualified
Starting their campaign in the second round phase of AFC qualifying, Jordan finished top of Group G, as they won four, drew one and lost just one of their six fixtures.
In the third round, they won four, drew four and lost two of their Group B fixtures, that saw them finish second in the table to South Korea. They scored 16 goals in those matches and conceded just eight times.
On the sidelines
Former West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp had a two-game spell in charge of Jordan back in March 2016.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Yazeed Abulaila (Al-Hussein), Abdullah Al-Fakhouri (Al-Wehdat), Noor Bani Attiah (Al-Faisaly)
Defenders: Abdallah Nasib (Al-Zawraa), Ehsan Haddad, Saed Al-Rosan, Saleem Obaid (Al-Hussein), Yazan Al-Arab (FC Seoul), Mohammad Abualnadi (Selangor), Husam Abu Dahab, Anas Banawi (Al-Faisaly), Mohannad Abu Taha (Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya), Mohammad Abu Hasheesh (Al-Karma)
Midfielders: Noor Al-Rawabdeh (Selangor), Nizar Al-Rashdan (Qatar), Ibrahim Saadeh (Al-Karma), Rajaei Ayed, Mahmoud Al-Mardi (Al-Hussein), Amer Jamous (Al-Zawraa), Mohammad Al-Dawoud (Al-Wehdat)
Strikers: Mousa Al-Tamari (Rennes), Odeh Al-Fakhouri (Pyramids), Mohammad Abu Zrayq (Raja Casablanca), Ali Azaizeh (Al-Shabab), Ibrahim Sabra (Lokomotiva Zagreb), Ali Olwan (Al-Sailiya)
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