Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni is calling for calm from the reigning world champions as they try to avoid one of the biggest shocks of all time – against unbeaten tournament debutants from Cape Verde in the 2026 World Cup round of 32.
Scaloni’s side advanced in style – nine points and six goals from the tournament’s joint top scorer Lionel Messi. This time, they avoided the surprise that hit them in 2022, when Saudi Arabia beat them in their opening match.
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“Teams usually change their style of play against us,” says Scaloni, whose players face opponents who are 62 places below them in the FIFA World Rankings.
“They defend and attack differently. When things get tough, we’re ready to dig deep. That’s what matters most.
Cape Verde created an immediate shockwave in the championship when they drew 0-0 with 2010 world champions and reigning European champions Spain on day one.
The Blue Sharks proved that it was no coincidence with a 2-2 draw against Uruguay and a 0-0 draw with Saudi Arabia – ensuring they finished ahead of both of these nations in the group.
“We will try to do the impossible, because we have already come so far by doing the impossible,” Diney, a centre-back for Al-Bataeh in the United Arab Emirates, told FIFA.
“We came here to compete against the best. Qualifying is not enough – we want to go further. We must be heroes.
“We go on the field knowing that the world is watching. The main challenge is to stop Lionel Messi.
The winner of this clash will face Australia or Egypt – whose match kicks off four hours earlier – in the round of 16 in Atlanta on Tuesday (17:00 BST).
Lineups and injuries
Cape Verde: Midfielder Telmo Arcanjo is a doubt due to injury, but left-back Sidny Lopes Cabral could return after quarantine.
Assistant coach Humberto Bettencourt said that Messi will not be marked man-to-man:
“We consider Messi a player who makes a difference,” he admitted via Reuters. “But we always look at the collective – the combinations that can be created, the spaces they can try to open up for Messi.
Argentina: Argentina will make several changes after resting Messi and Alexis Mac Allister in the 3-1 win over Jordan, while Lisandro Martínez and Enzo Fernández started on the bench.
Cristian Romero is back in full training after a knee problem, but right-back Gonzalo Montiel is out with a hamstring injury.
According to Ole, Lautaro Martínez will keep his place ahead of Julián Álvarez, while Facundo Medina could start at left-back at the expense of Nicolás Tagliafico.
Probable line-ups
Argentina (XI): Emiliano Martínez – Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martínez, Facundo Medina – Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernández – Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martínez, Thiago Almada
Cape Verde (XI): Vozinha – Steven Moreira, Pico Lopes, Diney Borges, Sidny Cabral – Ryan Mendes, Telmo Arcanjo, Kevin Pina, Jamiro Monteiro – Garry Rodrigues, Gilson Benchimol
Key figures
Argentina:
- Lionel Messi has scored in his last seven World Cup games for Argentina – a new tournament record
- The eight Ballon d’Or winner has 11 goals in total in this period (5 in the last 4 games in Qatar 2022, 6 in three games in 2026)
- Against Jordan, Argentina became the second team to start two players of at least 38 years in one World Cup, with Messi and Nicolás Otamendi – after Brazil’s Thiago Silva and Dani Alves in 2022
- Nicolás Otamendi’s 17 World Cup appearances make the River Plate player Argentina’s most winning defender in the history of the championship – ahead of Oscar Ruggeri (16)
- Since the start of Qatar 2022, Argentina have received seven penalties in 10 World Cup matches
Cape Verde:
- Only Spain, Mexico and Brazil conceded fewer goals than Cape Verde’s two in the group stage
- Only Spain and Mexico kept more clean sheets than Cape Verde’s two clean sheets
- They had 25.7% possession against Spain and were outshot 27-6 – and 34.8% against Uruguay with a shooting record of 12-17
- Against Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, they had 51% possession, 15 shots to seven and an expected goal value of 1.39 xG to 0.39
- They are the first debutants to go unbeaten through the group stage since Senegal in 2002
- Vozinha is the third goalkeeper in World Cup history to keep more than one clean sheet after the age of 40 – after Peter Shilton (three) and Dino Zoff (two)
Our Prediction
Argentina struggled initially and needed Messi’s brilliance to navigate their first playoff game of 2022, when they beat Australia 2-1. With Cape Verde’s impressive form, the margin of victory could prove surprisingly small again.
Divination: Argentina 1-0 Cape Verde
