Argentina v Austria prediction, lineups & tips: World Cup 2026 Group J

Lionel Messi's hat-trick against Algeria gave Argentina the perfect start to their title defence. Austria arrive in Dallas on three points of their own. Our prediction, tips and team news for Monday's Group J clash.

Jon Fisher

Published

Sun 21 Jun, 21:26

Updated

Mon 22 Jun, 20:02

Lionel Messi stepped into the FIFA World Cup 2026 and immediately reminded everyone why Argentina are defending champions. His hat-trick against Algeria in Kansas City, the first of his World Cup career, drew him level with Miroslav Klose as the tournament's all-time top scorer on 16 goals. Now, just six days later, he arrives in Dallas with one goal standing between him and sole ownership of that record, and a result that could seal Argentina's place in the round of 32.

Argentina

2–0

Full time

Austria

Mon 22 Jun, 18:00

Argentina head into this fixture top of Group J, separated from Austria only by goal difference after both sides won their openers. A win on Monday locks up a knockout-stage berth with a game to spare. Lionel Scaloni's side won their last eight matches heading into the tournament and kept a clean sheet in the opener, conceding nothing and registering an xG of 1.47 against Algeria while limiting their opponents to an xG of just 0.30. The title defence is tracking exactly as planned.

Austria's three points came with rather more drama. Ralf Rangnick's side were pegged back by Jordan before an own goal in the 76th minute and a stoppage-time Marko Arnautovic penalty sealed a 3-1 win. The 67-year-old Rangnick will be satisfied with the result but less pleased about the defensive exposure on the left side when Jordan equalised. Austria have only conceded more than once in one of their last 18 matches, so the Jordan goal was something of an aberration rather than a pattern, but Argentina are a different proposition entirely.

For Austria, the stakes are just as clear. A first World Cup knockout appearance since 1982 is within reach, and their first since the country returned to the tournament after a 28-year absence. Rangnick has built something worth protecting. His side recorded the lowest Passes per Defensive Action figure in European qualifying, making them the continent's most proactive pressing unit. Whether that pressing game can function against Argentina's quality in the Texas heat is Monday's central question.

Argentina arrive with five wins from their last five across all competitions before the Algeria game, scoring 12 goals and conceding one. Messi started against Algeria and produced arguably the finest individual display of any player in the opening round of fixtures. Austria beat Jordan 3-1 but needed to come from behind, and their attacking output was partly inflated by a late penalty. Rangnick confirmed no new injuries from the Jordan game and is expected to field a similar lineup, though the fitness of right-back Stefan Posch, who suffered a broken jaw in the opener, remains the one significant fitness question in the Austrian camp.

Last 6 · most recent left

Argentina

WW1 D0 L0

Austria

WW1 D0 L0

Last 1 meetings · most recent first

22 Jun 26Argentina2–0AustriaArgentina

Home wins

Draws

Away wins

Goals · H / A

2 / 0

Argentina assistant coach Pablo Aimar addressed the Austria challenge at the pre-match media session. He said: "Austria is a very tough team, as we're seeing with the vast majority of the teams participating in this World Cup." The comment was diplomatically understated, Aimar knows Rangnick's pressing system will test Argentina's composure in a way that Algeria did not.

Scaloni is unlikely to deviate from the system that delivered a 3-0 win against Algeria. Emiliano Martinez starts in goal, with a back four featuring Molina (if Montiel fails to recover), Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martinez and Facundo Medina. The midfield four of Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez and Thiago Almada supports Messi, who operates behind Julian Alvarez.

Rangnick will likely line up in a 4-2-3-1, with Alexander Schlager in goal and Laimer moving to right-back in place of the injured Posch. David Alaba captains the side from central defence alongside Philipp Lienhart, with Philipp Mwene at left-back. Nicolas Seiwald and Xaver Schlager form the double pivot, with Romano Schmid, Carney Chukwuemeka and Marcel Sabitzer providing support behind Kalajdzic.

Argentina: E. Martinez; Molina, C. Romero, L. Martinez, Medina; De Paul, Mac Allister, Fernandez, Almada; Messi; Alvarez

Austria: A. Schlager; Laimer, Lienhart, Alaba, Mwene; N. Seiwald, X. Schlager; Schmid, Chukwuemeka, Sabitzer; Kalajdzic

Argentina v Austria kicks off at 18:00 BST on Monday 22 June. The match is on BBC One in the UK, with free live streaming via BBC iPlayer. In the United States, coverage is on Fox Sports.

Argentina scored 3 goals in their opening match against Algeria, recording an xG of 1.47 and an xG against of just 0.30, a clean sheet in their only World Cup 2026 fixture to date.
Austria beat Jordan 3-1 in their opener but needed a 76th-minute own goal and a stoppage-time Arnautovic penalty to close the match out; their xG for that game was 1.69.
The two sides have only ever met twice in friendlies: Argentina won 5-1 in Vienna in 1980 and the teams drew 1-1 in 1990. This is their first competitive meeting.
Marko Arnautovic is Austria's all-time leading scorer with 47 goals in 133 appearances, while Marcel Sabitzer has 26 goals in 98 caps, both available from the bench or the XI as attacking threats.

Headline prediction · our pick

✓ HitConfidence · high

match result: argentina to win

Argentina are the superior side by every measure, and Messi is in the form of his career at this World Cup. Austria showed grit against Jordan but were shaky defensively, and Rangnick's high press is unlikely to unsettle a midfield as technically accomplished as De Paul, Mac Allister and Fernandez. The champions should win comfortably and Messi, on 16 World Cup goals and one short of the all-time record, will be desperate to provide the decisive moment.

Best Price11/20bet365 · score 3-1

✓ Prediction landed

TIP 01✗ Miss

Correct Score: 3-1

Argentina scored exactly three in their opener and Austria showed they can find a goal even in a losing cause against Jordan. Messi is likely to contribute once more as he chases the all-time scoring record, and a 3-1 scoreline reflects the gap in class while acknowledging that Rangnick's side are unlikely to be shut out entirely.

TIP 02✗ Miss

Over 2.5 Goals: Over

Both teams scored at least three in their respective openers. Argentina averaged 3.0 goals in their only World Cup 2026 game, and Austria managed the same against Jordan. At evens on the over/under market, Over 2.5 Goals at 1.87 represents fair value given the attacking quality on show and Austria's willingness to push forward even against elite opposition.

TIP 03✗ Miss

Both Teams to Score: Yes

Austria scored three against Jordan and Rangnick will not set up defensively, his pressing, vertical system is designed to create and score goals, not park the bus. Argentina conceded once in five pre-tournament matches and kept a clean sheet against Algeria, but Austria are a step up from that level. Arnautovic off the bench adds a physical threat that Argentina's defence will need to handle.

TIP 04✓ Hit

Anytime Goalscorer: Lionel Messi

Messi scored all three of Argentina's goals against Algeria, put four shots on target from six attempts and created two key passes in 80 minutes. He sits on 16 World Cup goals, level with Klose's all-time record, and will be desperate to go it alone in Dallas. No player at this tournament carries greater individual threat.

TIP 05✓ Hit

Double Chance: Home or Draw

At 6/1, an Austria win is a genuinely long shot for a team that needed an injury-time penalty to beat World Cup debutants Jordan. Argentina have won eight consecutive matches heading into this fixture and are ranked first in the world by FIFA. The Double Chance covers any scenario in which Argentina fail to find a winner, making it a low-risk entry point for cautious backers.

Build the Argentina v Austria bet

BetFootball Builder · 3 Legs✗ Miss

Home Win

✓ Hit

Match Result

11/20

Argentina are heavy favourites and have won eight straight matches. This forms the foundation of the builder, every other leg relies on the champions controlling and winning the game, which they are priced at 8/13 to do.

Over

✗ Miss

Over 2.5 Goals

13/15

An Argentina win and Over 2.5 Goals are only loosely correlated, Argentina could win 1-0. Including the goals line adds value because Rangnick will push forward, opening space for Argentina on the counter and making a tight scoreline unlikely. Both teams scored three in round one.

Lionel Messi

✓ Hit

Anytime Goalscorer

9/10

Messi scoring fits the Argentina win and Over 2.5 Goals legs without directly duplicating them. He is not a first goalscorer pick, so there is no builder-voiding correlation. The three legs, Argentina to win, three or more goals, Messi to score, combine naturally and all point to the same match narrative.

Combined Price

9/2

Stake£10.00

Returns£55.07

Profit+£45.07

World Cup · season 2026 · Group JLive snapshot