Argentina secures Group J win
Argentina concluded its World Cup 2026 Group J fixtures by facing Jordan. The match saw Argentina take an early lead with goals from Giovani Lo Celso and Lautaro Martinez. However, Mousa Al-Tamari of Jordan managed to halve the deficit in the second half.
Lionel Messi, who started on the bench for Argentina, was introduced into the game in the 60th minute. His entry followed a period where Jordan had shown increased pressure, particularly in the second half.
Key player performances and substitutions
Giovani Lo Celso, a midfielder for Real Betis, made a notable impact in his first World Cup appearance. He was central to Argentina‘s play, dictating the tempo from midfield and scoring a goal from a free kick he had earned. His performance was highlighted as a strong case for inclusion by manager Lionel Scaloni, who made several changes to the squad for this match.
Another player who stood out was Giuliano Simeone, son of Diego Simeone, the coach of Atletico Madrid. Giuliano Simeone, currently playing for Atletico Madrid, was noted for his dynamic runs during the game. He was later substituted in the 71st minute for Valentin Barco, marking Scaloni‘s fourth change of the match.
Jordan also made changes at halftime, bringing on Mousa Al-Tamari and Mahmoud Al-Mardi. Al-Tamari, sometimes referred to as the “Jordanian Messi,” was instrumental in Jordan‘s goal, sliding the ball home after a low cross from Ihsan Haddad. This goal marked Jordan‘s first conceded goal in this World Cup, and they have now scored in all three of their group games.
The match also saw a moment of concern for Lo Celso, who appeared to suffer an ankle injury. Despite this, he returned to his feet and continued playing, though he later made way for another player. This incident brought back memories of his absence from the 2022 World Cup squad due to injury.
Group J implications and other match details
With Argentina already confirmed as group winners, the match against Jordan had no bearing on their progression to the round of 32, where they are set to play Cape Verde. Jordan, making their World Cup debut, had already been eliminated before this fixture.
In the other Group J match, Algeria and Austria were level at 2-2. Austria, with a superior goal difference, needed only a draw to secure second place in the group. A draw would also be sufficient for Algeria to advance to the round of 32, while a defeat would result in their elimination.
Both Group J matches kicked off simultaneously at 03:00 BST. Argentina‘s starting lineup featured several changes, with only Emi Martinez and Lautaro Martinez retaining their places from the previous round. Lionel Messi was among nine changes made by Argentina‘s manager.
Jordan‘s lineup also saw two changes, with Mousa Al-Tamari initially benched. Riyad Mahrez started for Algeria, while Rayan Ait-Nouri was among the substitutes. Former Stoke City and West Ham United player Marko Arnautovic started for Austria.
The match saw Argentina maintain significant possession, holding 74 per cent in the second half, despite not registering a shot on target after halftime until later in the game. Jordan‘s Al-Arab received a booking in the 65th minute for a late challenge on Alexis Mac Allister.
Jordan‘s goal against Argentina marked a significant moment in their World Cup campaign.
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Source: nytimes.com
Dominic Hayes is the Sports News Writer at NewsGB, covering rugby union, golf and boxing with five years of reporting experience. He started on a north-east sports desk. He holds a degree in Journalism from Teesside University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Middlesbrough, he follows pro golf and amateur boxing. “Fast and accurate is the only standard worth keeping.”
