Argentina vs Jordan Saturday Night – Dallas Stadium | Image by Bares Deportivos @BaresDeportivos/X
Arlington will host its fifth and final group-stage match of the summer on Saturday night, as World Cup record-holder Lionel Messi and defending champion Argentina take on Jordan in a Group J finale at Dallas Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 9 p.m. CT.
Argentina enters the match sitting atop Group J standings with a perfect six points from two wins, while Jordan sits at the bottom with zero points from two losses, per FIFA. With Argentina already through as group winners and Jordan already eliminated, the stakes couldn’t be lower on paper – but history is still on the line, as the two nations have never faced each other.
Lionel Messi has become the leading scorer in men’s World Cup history during the tournament, as previously covered by DX, netting five goals across Argentina’s opening two matches. Messi recorded his 17th and 18th career World Cup goals in the 2-0 victory over Austria at Dallas Stadium, surpassing Germany’s Miroslav Klose, who had held the record at 16.
The milestone added another chapter to Messi’s 20-year World Cup story, which began on June 16, 2006, when an 18-year-old Messi scored his first World Cup goal off the bench against Serbia and Montenegro. Two decades later, he opened the 2026 tournament with a hat-trick against Algeria and scored two more against Austria.
In the Austria game, he missed an early penalty but responded with a left-footed finish in the 38th minute and sealed the win deep in stoppage time.
Manager Lionel Scaloni has leaned on a familiar core, with Emiliano Martínez, Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernández, Thiago Almada, and Lautaro Martínez. With qualification secured and group position locked in, Scaloni faces a tough decision on Saturday: does he rest key players ahead of the knockout rounds, or let his stars continue to build rhythm and momentum?
Jordan’s Historic Debut
Jordan is making their first-ever appearance at a men’s World Cup, having qualified after a win over Oman in June 2025. They’ve shown plenty of heart despite falling short in both of their previous matches, taking a first-half lead against Algeria before eventually falling 2-1 and testing Austria before a 3-1 loss.
Winger Musa Al-Tamari of Rennes is one of the squad’s most recognizable names, and his team will be fighting to send their supporters home with something to remember. A historic first win – or even a first goal – would give the country and its fanbase something genuine to carry home from their first appearance on the biggest stage in football.
What to Expect
The main battle will be Jordan’s defensive midfield against Argentina’s lightning-quick transitions. Rajaei Ayed and Noor Al-Rawabdeh will need to shield the back four and stop Mac Allister and Fernández from running the show. Jordan has already conceded five goals in two group games, and Argentina’s speed could likely expose that weakness again.
Argentina has a rare opportunity to achieve something only two teams have ever done in men’s World Cup history — win back-to-back titles. Italy accomplished the feat in 1934 and 1938, followed by Brazil in 1958 and 1962. No team has managed it since.
Saturday night in Arlington marks Argentina’s final group-stage match before their pursuit of this historic back-to-back victory intensifies in the knockout rounds. With Messi already making history, North Texas may not be done delivering iconic World Cup moments just yet.
The Dallas Express will be on-site at Dallas Stadium for Saturday’s match, with live updates throughout the game.