Argentina showcased a commanding performance against Jordan in their World Cup 2026 match, maintaining their perfect record in the group stage. Nico Paz, who dazzled in Como last season, made a notable impact, darting past a defender to deliver a low cross that was cleared just before reaching the goal.
As Argentina celebrated their previous group victories in 1930, 1998, 2010, and 2014, a lingering question remained: despite those successes, they failed to clinch the title on each occasion. This raises speculation about whether history might repeat itself.
Argentina’s past glories were echoed as they looked formidable in 1998, paralleled by the likes of France, Brazil, and the Netherlands, all of whom had their moments of brilliance in the tournament.
In the 35th minute, a long-range effort from Jordan’s Azaizeh was expertly blocked by Senesi. Shortly after, Jordan won their first corner, which was cleared to Abu Dahab, whose powerful strike from 25 yards was thwarted by Lautaro Martinez.
Marko Arnautovic’s goal for Austria against Algeria added intrigue to the tournament, impacting Iran’s potential advancement as well.
The turning point came when a penalty was awarded to Argentina, and Lautaro Martinez sent the ball confidently into the bottom-left corner, leaving the goalkeeper Abulaila diving in vain. This marked a significant moment in the tournament for Martinez, who netted his first World Cup goal since the opening match in 2022.
In the 29th minute, Senesi was struck in the face by al-Rashdan’s boot while attempting to play the ball, resulting in the penalty decision.
Moments earlier, Lautaro Martinez hit the bar with a low cross from Tagliafico, which he would have felt he should have converted. The ball then found Senesi, whose diving header was magnificently saved by Abulaila, although VAR was called to check for a possible penalty.
As play resumed, there were no goals yet in the concurrent match between Austria and Algeria. Viewers could follow that game with Sam Lewis.
In a stunning display on his World Cup debut, Giovani Lo Celso executed a brilliant free-kick. The foul leading to the kick was controversially called against Abu Taha, who received a booking. Lo Celso’s effort curled beautifully into the far corner, aided by Abulaila’s premature movement to the left.
In a light-hearted conversation, Graham Randall remarked, “Apropos of nothing, there is a potential Mexico v England match in the Azteca in the last 16,”
He reminisced about attending a USA v Mexico qualifier in 2017 at the Azteca, recalling, “I would love to be able to make that. My eldest American-English kid has a Mexican-American girlfriend. Her dad is a massive Mexico fan and obviously I am a huge England fan. I guess it’s the American immigrant experience “Back in 2017 – I won a trip to the Azteca to see USA v Mexico qualifier. Told that eldest kid the night before that we were going (he was 10). As someone whose first World Cup was 1986, getting to go to the Azteca was magnificent. Absolutely everything I ever thought it would be. Complete with all the riot police surrounding the USA away end along with the unidentified liquid thrown when Michael Bradley scored early on “There was a video on ITV with Jon Champion and Ally McCoist waving lyrical about the Azteca. Is this a British thing about the Azteca?”
Randall further pondered, “When a pal took me to my first American football game, I asked him why anyone would want to play as say, an offensive linesman (a blocker, basically),”
Argentina dominated possession with a staggering 82% at one point, showcasing their control over the match.
In the early minutes, Simeone secured Argentina’s first corner, but Otamendi’s header went over the bar.
Justin Kavanagh humorously compared the Jordan players’ situation to being offensive linemen in American football, noting their struggle to gain momentum against Argentina’s dominance.
Despite this, Jordan managed some decent possession, though they remained largely overshadowed by Argentina’s attacks.
In a disallowed goal incident for Argentina, Lo Celso, marking his World Cup debut, was just offside when he received a pass from Alvarez, finishing beautifully with his left foot.
Argentina’s formation saw Exequiel Palacios starting at right-back, supported by Giuliano Simeone, allowing them to control the match comfortably.
As the match began in Dallas, it felt like a home game for Argentina, with both fans and players quickly engaging with the game.
The match commenced with Jordan kicking off, and it was preceded by a moment of silence honoring the victims of the tragic earthquakes in Venezuela, observed respectfully by the majority of attendees.
- Germany v Paraguay
- France v Sweden
- South Africa v Canada
- Netherlands v Morocco
- Portugal v Croatia
- Spain v Austria/Algeria
- United States v Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Belgium v Senegal
- Brazil v Japan
- Cote d’Ivoire v Norway
- Mexico v Ecuador
- England v DR Congo
- Argentina v Cape Verde
- Australia v Egypt
- Switzerland v Iran/Algeria/Austria
- Colombia v Ghana
The upcoming matches feature enticing matchups, including Germany potentially facing France in the last 16, contingent on their respective victories.
Other exciting possibilities include encounters between Portugal and Spain, Germany and the Netherlands, and Brazil versus Argentina in the semi-finals.
As the group stage drew to a close, the final matches confirmed the advancement of teams to the knockout rounds, with DR Congo achieving a historic milestone by reaching this stage for the first time.
In a nostalgic reflection, Shahidul Partha recalled watching World Cup matches in Bangladesh from his childhood, where a large crowd gathered to watch on a small black-and-white TV. He described the communal excitement that filled the air during goal celebrations.
Despite Bangladesh’s national team never qualifying for the World Cup, the population has remained passionate fans of the sport, particularly supporting Argentina and Brazil.
The knockout stage is beginning to take shape, with Argentina set to face Cape Verde, having advanced with a strong group stage performance.
- Last 32 Cape Verde
- Last 16 Australia/Egypt
- Quarter-final Switzerland/Iran/Algeria/Austria/Colombia
Jordan’s lineup saw Odel al-Fakhouri and Ali Azaizeh stepping in for Musa al-Taamari and Mahmoud al-Mardi. Meanwhile, Argentina rested several key players, retaining only Emi Martinez and Lautaro Martinez from their previous match.
The referee for the encounter was Istvan Kovacs from Romania.
Following a historic draw with Saudi Arabia, Cape Verde has made a remarkable appearance in the knockout stages, becoming the smallest nation by population to achieve this milestone.
The group stage has concluded with a whirlwind of matches, setting the stage for the knockout rounds, where Argentina aims to continue their journey toward the title.
As the tournament progresses, Lionel Messi, despite not starting, is expected to play a pivotal role in the upcoming knockout matches, aiming to extend his scoring record.
Kick-off is scheduled for 9 PM local time, 12 PM AEST, 3 AM BST, and 10 PM EDT.
