Argentina Draws a Favorable Path Toward the World Cup Semifinals

Argentina’s route to the 2026 World Cup semifinals is taking shape, and on paper it looks much easier than those of several rivals. Lionel Scaloni’s team will face Jordan overnight, between Saturday and Sunday, in a match that has no bearing on qualification because Argentina has already secured first place in its group. Jordan, which shares a border with Israel, finished last in the group, so Scaloni is expected to rotate heavily.

Based on the bracket created by the group-stage results, Argentina is projected to meet Cape Verde in the round of 32 at Miami Stadium, a venue described as Lionel Messi’s home ground. If it advances, Argentina would then play the winner of Australia versus Egypt in the round of 16.

In the quarterfinals, Argentina would likely face the winner of Switzerland against the first-place team from Group J, with a draw enough for Colombia to claim that position. If Portugal wins its match tonight, a Messi-Cristiano Ronaldo showdown could even happen at that stage. The article says Argentina is expected to meet England in the semifinals.

For comparison, France’s projected path is much tougher. It would face Sweden in the round of 32, likely Germany in the round of 16, the Netherlands in the quarterfinals, and Spain in the semifinals. The article also lists the anticipated semifinal routes for Spain and England.