JordanvsArgentina

Result

Argentina rotated but still saw off Jordan to complete a flawless group stage. Giovani Lo Celso's free-kick and Lautaro Martínez's penalty had them clear by half-time; Mousa Al-Tamari pulled one back early in the second half before substitute Lionel Messi curled in a trademark free-kick ten minutes from time — his seventh goal in seven World Cup matches. Jordan's first World Cup ends in a third defeat.

Jordan 3-4-2-14-4-2 Argentina

Jordan

Argentina

Mousa Al-Tamari55'

Giovani Lo Celso19'

Lautaro Martínez31'

Lionel Messi80'

Mohannad Abu Taha17'

Yazan Al-Arab64'

Mohammed Abu Zraiq90'+4'

27%Possession73%

5Shots12

1On target4

1Saves0

2Corners6

228Passes completed737

80%Pass accuracy92%

16Tackles14

4Touches in box15

Substitutions

Mahmoud Almardifor Odeh Fakhouryat 45'

Thiago Almadafor Giovani Lo Celsoat 60'

Mousa Al-Tamarifor Ali Azaizehat 45'

Lionel Messifor Lautaro Martínezat 60'

Amer Jamousfor Nizar Al-Rashdanat 76'

Alexis Mac Allisterfor Nico Pazat 61'

Mohammed Abu Zraiqfor Ali Olwanat 90'

Valentín Barcofor Giuliano Simeoneat 71'

Saleem Obaidfor Husam Abu Dahabat 90'

José Manuel Lópezfor Julián Álvarezat 82'

At this Stage

Argentina closed the group stage the way they opened it: in control. Nine points from nine, eight goals scored, and only Mousa Al-Tamari's second-half strike against a heavily rotated side denting an otherwise spotless defensive ledger — answered, naturally, by Messi's free-kick, his seventh goal in seven World Cup matches. Group J's real drama happened elsewhere: Algeria and Austria drew 3-3 to finish level on four points, and goal difference (0 against -2) hands Austria second place while Algeria wait on best-third arithmetic playing out in other groups. Jordan's first World Cup ends with three defeats and no points, though a side that scored against Austria, Algeria and Argentina leaves less embarrassed than the zero suggests. The verdict is tidy: one champion cruising, two rivals split by a ledger, one debutant beaten but blooded.

Group J

Team	P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
Argentina	3	3	0	0	+7	9
Austria	3	1	1	1	+0	4
Algeria	3	1	1	1	-2	4
Jordan	3	0	0	3	-5	0

Top two (above the accent line) advance to the round of 32; the third-placed team is in the race for one of the eight best-third spots.

What we know now

What I said beforehand

The preview, frozen at kickoff. Clearly dated, never rewritten — that's the deal that makes the predictions worth anything.

Argentina to win and top the group. The world champions have won both games without conceding and need only a point to seal first place in Group J, while Jordan are eliminated after two defeats. Lionel Scaloni is likely to rotate and may rest Lionel Messi with the knockouts in mind, but even a changed Argentina — Lautaro Martínez, Julián Álvarez and the depth of a champion squad — carries far more than a Jordan side playing for pride. A comfortable Argentina win is the strong expectation. 3-0 Argentina.

Both cases written 2026-06-26, 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 15% belongs to the draw.