Only two nations in the history of the FIFA World Cup have successfully defended their title. After defeating France in the 2022 World Cup final, Argentina enters the tournament as the reigning champions and will have their eyes set on becoming the third nation to win back-to-back World Cups.
Argentina 2026 World Cup Squad Preview
GOALKEEPERS
There have been no surprises in the inclusion of Emiliano Martinez, who was the hero of the 2022 World Cup after making several crucial saves and penalties during the knockout stages that helped Argentina lift the trophy. The inclusion of Juan Musso also provides strong depth in the position after he enjoyed a solid season with Atletico Madrid while first-choice goalkeeper Jan Oblak struggled with injuries.
DEFENDERS
The defense looks slightly vulnerable as starting centre-backs Christian Romero and Lisandro Martinez struggled with injuries throughout the season, playing only 2059 and 1274 minutes respectively. The inclusion of Nicolas Otamendi may surprise some due to his age, but he brings valuable experience and leadership to the squad.
Meanwhile, Leonardo Balerdi, who has been a regular presence in previous squads, adds much-needed versatility as he can play as a left-sided centre-back, right-sided centre-back, and even as a right-back, giving Lionel Scaloni greater tactical flexibility.
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Big Miss
Marcos Senesi, who has recently joined Tottenham Hotspur, has been left out of the 26-man squad. Senesi enjoyed an impressive season with AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League as the Cherries qualified for European competition for the first time in their history.
MIDFIELD
The midfield looks strong with players like Enzo Fernandez, who will be the heartbeat of the team while operating in a deeper role alongside Alexis Mac Allister. Nicolas Gonzalez will provide attacking energy through his high work rate and ability to contribute at both ends of the pitch.
Big Miss
Emiliano Buendia, whose winning goal for Aston Villa in the UEFA Europa League final was declared the Goal of the Tournament, has been excluded from the squad. The main reason appears to be his profile, as he operates more as a winger and offers less defensive contribution compared to players such as Giovani Lo Celso.
ATTACK
Attack remains one of Argentina’s biggest strengths, largely because of captain Lionel Messi. However, players like Nico Paz could reduce the team’s dependency on Messi through their creativity and technical ability, allowing Scaloni to adopt more flexible tactical approaches.
Argentina’s main strikers are also in excellent form after strong seasons with their clubs. Julian Alvarez scored 20 goals and provided 9 assists, while Lautaro Martinez scored 21 goals and registered 6 assists.
Argentina Predicted Lineup for the World Cup 2026
Formation: 4-4-2
Goalkeeper: Emiliano Martinez
Centre-Backs: Lisandro Martinez, Christian Romero
Left-Back: Nicolas Tagliafico
Right-Back: Gonzalo Montiel
Midfielders: Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez, Leandro Paredes
Attacking Midfielder: Lionel Messi
Strikers: Lautaro Martinez, Julian Alvarez
Argentina’s Playing Style
Argentina primarily plays a vertical style of football with two strikers up front supported by a traditional Number 10, Lionel Messi. The team maintains a compact midfield structure and looks to play forward quickly whenever possession is regained, allowing the strikers to make runs behind the opposition’s defensive line.
GROUP STAGE FIXTURES
Argentina vs Algeria – 17 June
Argentina vs Austria – 22 June
Argentina vs Jordan – 28 June
Argentina enters the tournament as the defending champions with a perfect blend of experienced stars and emerging talents. They possess the quality, depth, and winning mentality required to challenge for the title once again. The real question is whether Argentina can successfully defend their crown and prove that their 2022 World Cup triumph was not the end of an era, but the beginning of a dynasty.
As the Argentina Football Federation has announced the squad for the FIFA World Cup 2026, read the preview for Argentina’s World Cup squad.
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