Sports · World Cup 2026 · Group J
Argentinavs
Austria
Monday, June 22, 2026 · 1:00 p.m. ET · Dallas Stadium (AT&T Stadium), Arlington, TX
Watch: FOX · Telemundo
My pick: Argentina win · locked 2026-06-21 10:00 UTCPrediction
Argentina to win. The world champions were imperious in a 3-0 defeat of Algeria — Lionel Messi's hat-trick taking him to within one of Miroslav Klose's all-time World Cup goals record — and avoiding defeat here books their place in the round of 32 with a game to spare. Ralf Rangnick's Austria are well-drilled and left it late to beat Jordan, but Argentina's quality and Scaloni's near-flawless recent run should prove decisive in Dallas. 2-1 Argentina.
The case for Argentina
64% to winArgentina look every inch defending champions: Messi is in vintage form, the midfield of De Paul, Mac Allister and Enzo Fernández controls games, and Scaloni's side have won seven straight at the World Cup dating back to 2022. Beat Austria and they top Group J with a match to spare; the blend of elite talent and tournament know-how makes them clear favourites.
The case for Austria
13% to winAustria are on the brink of the knockout stages for the first time since 1982, and Rangnick's high-energy pressing can unsettle anyone. With David Alaba marshalling the defence and the RB Leipzig core of Laimer, Seiwald and Schlager in midfield, Das Team have the organisation to frustrate Argentina and the set-piece threat to nick a result if they take their chances.
Both cases written 2026-06-21, before kickoff — they freeze into the record exactly as written, however the match goes. The percentages are mine, quoted to a decimal because false precision is funnier — the unclaimed 23% belongs to the draw.
Argentina 4-4-24-2-3-1 AustriaThe briefing
Storylines
- Argentina, top of Group J after a 3-0 win over Algeria, qualify for the round of 32 with a game to spare if they avoid defeat.
- Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick against Algeria and needs one more goal to break Miroslav Klose's all-time World Cup record of 16.
- Austria, second on three points, are chasing a first World Cup knockout berth since 1982 in only their second tournament since 1998.
- Played under the retractable roof at Dallas Stadium (AT&T), taking the Texas heat out of an early-afternoon kickoff.
The coaches
Lionel Scaloni Argentina
World Cup-winning coach since 2018; has Argentina on a near-flawless run with a balanced side built to platform Messi.
Ralf Rangnick Austria
The German tactician, in charge since 2022, drills an intense pressing 4-2-3-1 around an RB Leipzig spine and David Alaba.
Availability
| Gonzalo Montiel | Doubt (hamstring) — Molina expected to keep the right-back spot | Sports Mole preview · 2026-06-20 |
| Stefan Posch | Major doubt (broken jaw, no surgery required) — Laimer likely to deputise at right-back | Sports Mole preview · 2026-06-20 |
Availability drifts hourly in tournament week — every row carries its source and date for exactly that reason.
Watch: FOX in English (free over the air, or stream on Fox One) and Telemundo in Spanish (stream on Peacock). (FOX Sports / Sports Mole World Cup TV listing, as of 2026-06-21)
Weather: Indoors under the retractable roof at Dallas Stadium (AT&T) — roof, so no weather factor regardless of the Texas heat outside. (Venue (AT&T Stadium retractable roof), as of 2026-06-21)
Venue: Dallas Stadium (AT&T Stadium), Arlington, TX, United States — FIFA strips sponsor names for the tournament; the everyday name is in parentheses.