The 2026 FIFA World Cup begins this week, and the 12 groups are set ahead of the newly expanded 48-team tournament.
The 2026 edition of the FIFA World Cup, hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, marks the first time the historic tournament has expanded from 32 to 48 teams. It will also feature a new Round of 32 knockout stage, resulting in a colossal 104 matches across 39 days.
Group J includes Argentina, Algeria, Austria, and Jordan. Let’s take a look at the Group J teams and see how each team is shaping up heading into the tournament.
Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, and Jordan
Argentina:
The reigning World Cup champions are back and will be set on making history by going back-to-back, a feat that hasn’t been accomplished in 64 years. Argentina will still be led by Lionel Messi and numerous standouts from their incredible 2022 run. Argentina has been in incredible form since their 2022 victory, and Lionel Scaloni, the main architect behind their success in recent years, will be determined alongside his squad to prove their status as the world’s best in what is expected to be Messi’s sixth and final World Cup.
Argentina shouldn’t have too many issues with a mostly unproven Group J, but the knockout stages will truly determine how they fare against the rest of the competition, especially the proven European squads. Argentina is coming in with a near-identical version of their 2022 squad, along with some new faces. Their 2022 World Cup back line, which included notable players such as Gonzalo Montiel, Nahuel Molina, Lisandro Martínez, Nicolás Otamendi, Cristian Romero, and Nicolás Tagliafico, is largely returning, which should bring confidence to the Argentina dressing room.
Besides the returning defenders, midfielders Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernández, and Alexis Mac Allister are all back, as are Argentina’s two extremely talented strikers, Lautaro Martínez and Julián Álvarez. Lionel Messi will once again be the face of the squad, and despite turning 39 during the tournament, he understands and excels in Scaloni’s system like no other while still possessing that magical left foot. Although their starting lineup is expected to remain relatively similar to their 2022 World Cup squad, keep an eye on young Como winger Nico Paz to make a name for himself this tournament after an impressive club season in which he scored 12 goals and recorded six assists in Serie A.
Algeria:
Algeria is back in the World Cup 12 years after reaching the Round of 16 in the 2014 tournament. Algeria is equipped with numerous players who have European club experience and will be eager to establish themselves as one of the top African nations at this year’s World Cup. Algeria coasted through qualifying, going 8-1-1 to book their ticket to the U.S. this summer. Manager Vladimir Petković runs a possession-based style of play that suits the talent Algeria has throughout its squad.
Algeria’s top player is former Manchester City winger Riyad Mahrez. Mahrez, who missed the last two World Cups due to Algeria not qualifying, may not be the same player he was during his prime at Manchester City, but he is still an incredible talent with a special left foot and will be looking to make up for lost time this tournament. Forward Mohamed Amoura will also be a player to watch, as he was Algeria’s leading scorer during AFCON qualifying.
Austria:
Austria will also be returning to the World Cup after a lengthy layoff, having last played in the 1998 edition of the tournament. Although Austria has been out of the limelight for a while, they have put together strong showings at Euro 2020 and Euro 2024, reaching the Round of 16 in both tournaments. Much like Algeria, Austria also had a straightforward path to qualification, going 6-1-1. Much of Austria’s rise back to the world’s biggest stage can be attributed to the work of Ralf Rangnick, who has reinvigorated the national team and brought Austria back into contention since his appointment in 2022.
David Alaba, one of the most decorated soccer players in the world, will be leading the Austrians in their first World Cup of the century. Alaba, the second-most-capped Austrian player, will be joined by 36-year-old Marko Arnautović, Austria’s all-time leader in appearances with 133 caps for the national team. Those two veterans will be joined by Marcel Sabitzer and Konrad Laimer, whose experience in recent European competitions and at the highest club level should prove to be integral to Austria’s success this summer.
Jordan:
Jordan is the only team in Group J with no previous World Cup experience, and they will be excited by the opportunity to make history for their country this summer. Jordan’s road to the World Cup was a mixed bag, with the nation going 8-3-5 during qualifying.
Jordan’s Ali Olwan was their leading scorer during qualifying, netting nine goals, including a hat trick in a 3-0 win over Oman that helped book their ticket to the World Cup. Alongside Olwan, Rennes’ Mousa Al-Tamari will be a vital player for Jordan, as he has been a consistent contributor for the French club.
Go to our
Soccer
page for more articles and updates like South Korea’s 2026 FIFA World Cup Roster!
You can
like
The Game Haus on Facebook and
follow
us on Twitter for more sports and esports articles from great TGH writers!