Argentina vs Austria Prediction, Betting Tips & Odds | WC 2026

Competition – FIFA World Cup 2026

Group J, Matchday 2: Monday, June 22, 2026

Kick-off: 8 pm

Venue – AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas

Why Argentina versus Austria match matters

As widely expected, Argentina took early control of Group J on three points and a +3-goal difference after their captain Lionel Messi turned up with a world-class performance to score a hat-trick as they walloped Algeria 3-0 in the opening game. Austria, much touted as the second-favourite to progress to the Round of 32, follows in second with the same number of points, though on an inferior goal difference of +2 after conceding one in their 3-1 win over Jordan.

Argentina need only a win in this tie to seal their progress to the knockouts with a game to spare and enough to rest their stars. But if anything, this World Cup has taught us, is that surprises are now normal and can happen to anyone against anyone. A win for Austria would dramatically reopen the group.

3 goals, 3 points, 1 Messi. #FIFAWorldCup

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 17, 2026

READ – World Cup Predictions

The record that defines this match.

Besides the result, cameras will be on Messi, who comes into this match with 16 World Cup goals and level with Germany legend Miroslav Klose for the record. Messi needs just one strike in this fixture to go clear as the best-ever scorer at this stage. It is the most historically loaded individual subplot of the entire 2026 tournament and it will be resolved, one way or another, in Arlington.

Argentina’s opener against Algeria was poetic in more ways than one. It was the first hat-trick that their legendary skipper Messi scored his first hat-trick at a FIFA World Cup. That match marked his 200th in an Argentinian jersey and exactly 20 years since his World Cup debut against Serbia and Montenegro in Germany 2006.

That script could only be honoured by a proper standing ovation, even from the Algerian and the packed Stadium crowd that followed his substitution shortly after the third goal.

Messi scored a hat-trick against Algeria and now stands one goal from the outright World Cup scoring record. Read here: World Cup Top Goalscorer Predictions

Rugged win

Austria’s opener was an altogether different experience. Ralf Rangnick’s side were nearly undone by debutants Jordan, matching the Austrians shot for shot for long periods, conceding an equaliser in the 50th minute and requiring an Arnautovic-forced own goal and a VAR-aided stoppage-time penalty to claim all three points. The 3-1 scoreline flattered Austria considerably — Jordan had the same number of shots and shots on target. Austria have their three points and their confidence, but the performance left significant questions about whether Rangnick’s high-press system can function effectively against opposition of Argentina’s quality in Dallas.

Argentina’s form – WWWWW

Argentina’s last five matches

17.06.2026 – Argentina 3-0 Algeria

10.06.2026 – Argentina 3-0 Iceland

07.06.2026 – Argentina 2-0 Honduras

01.04.2026 – Argentina 5-0 Zambia

28.03.2026 – Argentina 2-1 Mauritania

Goals scored – 15

Goals conceded – 1

Key trends from Argentina’s recent matches

Argentina arrive in this match on top of Group J after thrashing Algeria 3-0 in the opener last week. Before that, they had won four consecutive build-up matches, scoring two or more goals in all. Argentina have been efficient going forward, scoring 15 goals in the five matches, which is an average of three goals per game. Defensively, they have been unbreakable, keeping four consecutive clean sheets and conceding only once in their friendly against Mauritania, proving that they are a well-balanced team throughout.

Austria’s form: W-W-W-W-D

Austria’s last five matches

17.06.2026 – Austria 3-1 Jordan

01.06.2026 – Austria 1-0 Tunisia

31.03.2026 – Austria 1-0 South Korea

27.03.2026 – Austria 5-1 Ghana

18.11.2025 – Austria 1-1 Bosnia & Herzegovina

Goals scored – 11

Goals conceded – 3

Key trends from Austria’s recent matches

Austria was not very impressive in their 3-1 over Jordan, as the results suggest, but nevertheless, they got the job done. They have won four of their last five matches and drawn once with no defeats. Those wins include 5-1 over Ghana and identical 1-0 wins over Tunisia and South Korea, all World Cup-grade teams. They have managed to score a goal in all five games but have kept only two clean sheets. In their last five games, they have managed to score 11, about two per game and conceded only thrice.

Team News

Argentina team news

Although Lionel Messi was subbed in the 80^th minute in their opener, it was largely precautionary as the result had already been sealed. However, he is expected to start against Austria as Scaloni maintains his strongest starting team with no injuries reported.

Key players: There’s nowhere else to start besides Messi as he looks for that golden goal that will make him the outright all-time World Cup scorer. Against Algeria, he surpassed Brazilian legend Pele’s record of 24 goals at the World Cup.

Besides him, Argentina will look at Atletico Madrid striker Lautaro Martinez to lead the line and also take charge of the penalty duties while the team banks on the evergreen goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez to command the backline and probably register another clean sheet.

Austria team news

There are no significant injuries reported.

Key players: Romano Schmid, who plays for Werder Bremen, was Austria’s best player against Jordan after scoring a beautiful opener. Marcel Sabitzer is their creative brain and is expected to deliver on set-pieces. Marko Arnautovic is their all-time top scorer and record appearance holder with 113 caps, who became the country’s oldest World Cup scorer with that penalty against Jordan and will look to influence proceedings from the bench once again.

Predicted Starting Lineups

Argentina XI: Emiliano Martinez-Nahuel Molina-Cristian Romero-Lisandro Martinez-Nicolas Tagliafico-Rodrigo De Paul-Enzo Fernandez-Alexis Mac Allister-Lionel Messi-Lautaro Martinez-Julian Alvarez.

Austria XI: Patrick Pentz-Stefan Posch-Kevin Danso-David Affengruber-Philip Mwene-Nicolas Seiwald-Xaver Schlager-Marcel Sabitzer-Romano Schmid-Sasa Kalajdzic-Patrick Wimmer.

Best Betting Markets for Argentina vs Austria

Match winner – Argentina to win

Total Goals – Over 2.5

Both teams to score 0 No

Anytime goalscorer – Lionel Messi

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