Debutant faces the champion with no tournament pressure: prediction for Jordan vs Argentina - 28.06.2026
The third-round World Cup clash between Jordan and Argentina will take place on June 28 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. Argentina has already secured six points and guaranteed themselves the top spot in the group, while Jordan, after two defeats, has lost any chance of progressing to the playoffs. Still, the debutants will aim to finish their first-ever World Cup campaign with a memorable performance against the tournament favorites.
Jordan: elimination confirmed, but the team showed character
Jordan became the first tournament debutant to be mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. Losses to Austria (1-3) and Algeria (1-2) left the team without points, but in terms of performance, the Jordanians hardly looked out of place at this World Cup. They didn't park the bus, went forward with intent, and at times genuinely troubled their opponents.
The main issue for Jamal Sellami’s squad has been closing out matches. Against Austria, the decisive goals came after the 76th minute, and versus Algeria, Jordan led until the 69th but ran out of steam and conceded twice. Abdallah Nasib and Yazid Abu Layla recovered from minor knocks and impressed in the second match: the defender won plenty of duels, while the goalkeeper made six saves. Their contributions could again be crucial against Argentina.
Argentina: top spot secured, but Messi remains in the spotlight
Argentina delivered near-flawless performances in their opening two fixtures. Lionel Scaloni’s men brushed aside Algeria 3-0 and Austria 2-0, sealing group supremacy with a game to spare. The defense has been especially impressive: Algeria failed to register a single shot on target, while Austria managed just one accurate effort and created little real danger.
Scaloni is almost certain to rotate his lineup now that the group stage mission is accomplished. Still, according to Argentine media, Lionel Messi wants to play and is expected to feature for at least one half. Cristian Romero will miss the match due to injury, but even with changes, Argentina’s squad boasts immense quality. Messi has already scored five goals at this tournament, bringing his all-time World Cup tally to 18.
Probable lineups
- Jordan: Abu Layla, Abudaghab, Nasib, Alarab, Abu Taha, Haddad, Al-Mardi, Al Rawabdeh, Al-Rashdan, Oluwan, Tamari.
- Argentina: Rulli, Montiel, Senesi, Otamendi, Tagliafico, Lo Celso, Palacios, Barco, Paz, Messi, Alvarez.
Match facts and head-to-head
- No more than 7 corners were awarded in regular time in Argentina’s last 6 World Cup matches
- No more than 3 goals were scored in regular time in 7 of Argentina’s last 9 World Cup matches
- Argentina scored in both halves in each of their last five matches.
- At least 4 yellow cards were shown in regular time in 9 of Argentina’s last 12 World Cup matches
The favorite’s class should tell after the break: prediction for Jordan vs Argentina
Jordan has already proven they’re not content to be mere spectators in their World Cup debut. The team plays with courage, handles the ball well in patches, and is capable of causing problems even for more illustrious opponents. However, they still lack experience, squad depth, and the ability to sustain a high tempo for the full 90 minutes.
Even with rotation, Argentina remains a team of another caliber. Scaloni may give opportunities to reserves, but the structure, movement quality, and individual brilliance will not disappear. If Messi features for even one half, Jordan’s defense will face even more headaches, and as the match wears on, Argentina’s physical superiority should prove decisive.
