Group J Finale: Jordan VS Argentina - Prediction

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has already delivered its fair share of unforgettable moments, and as Group J reaches its conclusion, football fans are gearing up for the final group stage match of the defending champions, Argentina. Tonight, at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, the defending world champions will face off against tournament debutants Jordan.

For Argentina, the group stage has been nothing short of a celebratory victory lap. La Albiceleste has comprehensively steamrolled the competition, officially securing their spot in the Round of 32 with a commanding 3-0 victory over Algeria, immediately followed by a clinical 2-0 win against Austria. Defensively, they have operated as an unbreakable wall, keeping consecutive clean sheets. Offensively, they have been simply breathtaking to watch.

At the center of it all, predictably, is Lionel Messi. The legendary captain has turned this group stage into his personal highlight reel. With five goals across just two matches, Messi recently shattered the record to become the all-time leading goalscorer in men's FIFA World Cup history.

On the exact opposite end, Jordan finds itself in a very different position. This tournament marks the Asian nation's very first appearance at a senior men's World Cup. While their maiden journey will unfortunately come to an end after tonight—following valiant but ultimately unsuccessful efforts against Austria (1-3) and Algeria (1-2)—they have not gone unnoticed by the global audience. Scoring a goal in both of their opening matches proves they possess the attacking spirit and courage to compete on the global stage.

Stats & Facts

• This game marks the first-ever international meeting between the national teams of Argentina and Jordan.
• Lionel Messi broke the all-time men's FIFA World Cup scoring record during the previous match against Austria, scoring twice to surpass the previous mark of 16 goals.
• Despite being eliminated, Jordan has managed to score in both of their group stage matches during this, their first-ever World Cup appearance.
• Argentina is currently riding an eight-match streak of keeping clean sheets across all competitions and has yet to allow a single goal in this World Cup.
• Jordan generated just 0.46 xG against Austria and 0.63 xG against Algeria.

Team News

Since Argentina have already qualified for the Round of 32, Lionel Scaloni will massively rotate his squad against Jordan tonight. The Argentina boss has already confirmed that Lionel Messi will not start the game; however, he will come off the bench in the second half. Emiliano Martinez will continue between the bars, while Otamendi is likely to replace Cristian Romero in defense. Lionel Scaloni is likely to change the midfield with Leandro Parades, Lo Celso, Palacios, and Nico Paz. Lautaro Martínez and Julian Alvarez will lead the attack for the World Champions. As for Jorda, they have no injury issues and is expected to play with the same lineup.

Possible Lineup for Jordan:

Abulaila; Al-Arab, Nasib, Abu Dahab; Haddad, Al-Rashdan, Al-Rawabdeh, Abu Taha; Al-Tamari, Al-Mardi; Olwan

Possible Lineup for Argentina:

E. Martinez; Montiel, Otamendi, Martinez, Tagliafico; Lo Celso, Paredes, Palacios, Almada; Messi, L. Martinez

Prediction: Jordan 0-3 Argentina

While the immense pressure of qualification is completely off, the pure entertainment value remains incredibly high. Argentina will be actively looking to maintain their flawless, perfect record and carry maximum positive momentum into the Round of 32. Since Messi will not start, Argentina's main task will be to score goals without him. As a result, Lautaro Martinez and Julian Alverez will be very aggressive to find the net for the first time in the tournament.

Betfair Odds

Argentina: 1.10

Draw: 8.70

Jordan: 17.50

Visit BFB247 to get real-time Betfair Odds and an exclusive 2.5% commission on winning bets!