2026 World Cup schedule, matches, kick-off times, where to watch, confirmed news updates and full Argentina squad
After playing an emotional final competitive game in Argentina in September 2025, Lionel Messi can complete an amazing international career by leading his country to the 2026 World Cup titles in the US, Canada and Mexico.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner turns 39 at the time of the tournament and is Argentina’s top scorer and host, leading to heightened scrutiny in his country over the fitness of the national hero and sportsman.
Head coach Lionel Scaloni may also choose to use his talisman sparingly. La Albiceleste will hope to have won their division when they face Jordan’s first team in their final World Cup qualifier.
Here is Messi’s full confirmed and possible schedule for FIFA World Cup 2026. You can also find the UK TV schedule for the matches here.
Messi’s World Cup matches: Confirmed schedule, start times
Argentina will face Algeria, Austria and Jordan in the group stage. Here’s where those games are taking place and their next matches, and how to watch in the UK.
| The day | Compare | The result | The stage | Time (BST) | ET | PT | The station |
| June 17 | Algeria | The group | 02:00 | 21:00 | 18:00 | ITV | |
| June 22 | In Austria | The group | 18:00 | 13:00 | 10:00 | BBC | |
| June 28 | Jordan | The group | 03:00 | 22:00 | 19:00 | BBC | |
| July 1/2/3 | TBC | Round 32 | TBC | TBC | TBC | TBC | |
| July 5/6/7 | TBC | Round 16 | TBC | TBC | TBC | TBC | |
| July 10/11 | TBC | Quarter-final | TBC | TBC | TBC | TBC | |
| July 14/15 | TBC | Semi-finalist | TBC | TBC | TBC | TBC | |
| July 18 | TBC | Third place match | 22:00 | 17:00 | 14:00 | TBC | |
| July 19 | TBC | Finally | 20:00 | 15:00 | 12:00 | BBC, ITV |
Is Messi playing in the 2026 World Cup? Injury news updates
Argentina’s bells were ringing when Messi went down with a hamstring injury during Inter Miami’s final game before the World Cup, but Scaloni said Messi “looked good” in training as he reviewed the day ahead of his team’s campaign.
“We believe that everyone – not just Argentines – wants to see him on the pitch,” Scaloni said. “I want to see him play because that’s what he does for everyone.
“For me, it will always be like that, I don’t see anything bad, to be honest, [on the training] tone.
“He was in a different situation but he has always been there and he has always been fundamental to us, now he will be more so.”
Lionel Messi’s World Cup matches: Knockout stage, full bracket
If Argentina declares that they are favorites to win their team, they will face the runners-up in Group H in the last 32. Messi’s team will face the winners of that group if they come in second place.
That could produce a tricky game against Cape Verde – who already host Spain – the Saudi Arabian side who beat Argentina in the final or La Roja, who are European champions.
Argentina will face one of the winners if they finish among the third best teams in the group stage. You can see the full bracket on the FIFA site.
Lionel Messi next in FIFA World Cup 2026
Messi’s next appearance at the World Cup is expected to be in the first match between Argentina and Algeria in Kansas on June 17 at 02:00 BST.
2026 World Cup: Will Lionel Messi lift the trophy?
Argentina is one of the favorites to win the World Cup and has retained almost the entire squad that won the cup in 2022.
Barcelona’s top scorer Messi scored the best in the South American qualifiers, scoring eight goals to help Argentina finish top of the table with nine points.
Prolific striker Julian Alvarez scored four goals in the 2022 final, while Inter’s Lautaro Martinez averaged almost a goal of the international game and is Argentina’s second top scorer under Scloni.
One of Messi’s Inter Miami team-mates, Rodrigo De Paul, is part of an impressive line-up alongside Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez and Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister, with an experienced defense in front of Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, one of the stars of France’s victory in the 2022 final.
Spain, France, England, Brazil, Portugal and Germany are among Argentina’s possible rivals to win the title if Messi is to win another trophy in his international swansong.
Argentina’s 2026 World Cup squad: Full list of Messi’s teammates
This is the team that Messi is leading in the sixth World Cup, having played 26 games in this competition before the start of the finals.
Goalkeepers: Juan Musso (Atletico Madrid), Geronimo Rulli (Marseille), Emiliano Martinez (Villa)
Defenders: Marcos Senesi (Bournemouth), Nicolas Tagliafico (Lyon), Gonzalo Montiel (River Plate), Lisandro Martinez (Manchester United), Cristian Romero (Tottenham), Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica), Facundo Medina (Marseille), Nahuel Molina (Atleti)
Midfielders: Leandro Paredes (River Plate), Rodrigo de Paul (Inter Miami), Valentin Barco (Strasbourg), Giovani lo Celso (Real Betis), Ezequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea)
Frontrunners: Julian Alvarez (Atleti), Lionel Messi (Miami), Nicolas Gonzalez (Atleti), Thiago Almada (Atleti), Giuliano Simeone (Atleti), Nico Paz (Como), Jose Manuel Lopez (Palmeiras), Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan)
