2026 World Cup Group J preview, predictions
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<p>Group J will be under close watch by soccer fans the world over, because it is where you will find <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/lionel-messi/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Lionel Messi</a> and the defending World Cup champion, <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/teams/argentina/">Argentina</a>.</p>
<p>Joining Argentina in a sneaky-good group are upstarts <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/teams/algeria/">Algeria</a> and <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/teams/austria/">Austria</a>, both of which will be looking to knock the champs from their pedestal.</p>
<p>The competition for the top three spots should be intriguing, especially if Algeria or Austria can score an upset of Messi and Argentina.</p>
<p><strong>1930</strong>&#8211; Uruguay defeats Argentina 4-2 in the first World Cup event held in Uruguay.</p>
<figure><;<img src="https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/uk7W4SRP.Gm2jBIP5rXpjg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTEzMTg7Y2Y9d2VicA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/cc0aa3c981f386214dc1e0af18d27ca7" />1 / <!-- -->21</figure>
<p><strong>1930</strong>&#8211; Uruguay defeats Argentina 4-2 in the first World Cup event held in Uruguay.</p>
<figure><;<img src="https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/j9WryhwuLETMBxB.Rk1b0w--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTc1OTtjZj13ZWJw/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/184266f8b3a6303a95491d42e3ef3fde" />2 / <!-- -->21</figure>
<p><strong>1934</strong>&#8211; Italy over Czechoslovakia 2-1.</p>
<figure><;<img src="https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/3K0PGA1hX19DkzM4vD5Lqg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY5MDtjZj13ZWJw/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/1a4c5cd627ed6f86a40545da751dbc36" />3 / <!-- -->21</figure>
<p><strong>1938</strong>&#8211; Italy defeats Hungary 4-2. The World Cup would not be played again until 1950 because of the Second World War.</p>
<figure><;<img src="https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/kPugl0KPqVvxuvvaCT7VnA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY3OTtjZj13ZWJw/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/e75eda4c3ccdba8fbfe0971f5498fe33" />4 / <!-- -->21</figure>
<p><strong>1950</strong>&#8211; Uruguay wins it&#8217;s second World Cup with a 2-1 win over Brazil.</p>
<figure><;<img src="https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/RbvzbKZuEXy9BplfMGbhUw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTc2MjtjZj13ZWJw/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/e4306a1fffc64bf99e9397324249b5da" />5 / <!-- -->21</figure>
<p><strong>1954</strong>&#8211; Germany wins 3-2 over Hungary.</p>
<figure><;<img src="https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/cUXpSfsgVCspWiSmAn9P0g--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTc1MDtjZj13ZWJw/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/b7d466cf1b3b2be490be972b8b2f583a" />6 / <!-- -->21</figure>
<p><strong>1958</strong>&#8211; Brazil celebrates by running with the flag of Sweden after defeating them 5-2.</p>
<figure><;<img src="https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/JUSInUtXd_RgWWDZQWfQng--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTYyNDtjZj13ZWJw/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/1fd2be713dc5d2efcd14bfe3df33fb62" />7 / <!-- -->21</figure>
<p><strong>1962</strong>&#8211; Brazil 3-1 over Czechoslovakia.</p>
<figure><;<img src="https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/QP01Xb8_9hjLXzX47S2ssw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTYzNjtjZj13ZWJw/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/3f7e4507ee6a0c559f29a580bfbb3c63" />8 / <!-- -->21</figure>
<p><strong>1966</strong>&#8211; England defeats Germany 4-2 in England.</p>
<figure><;<img src="https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/yt6FGEA.tDpGCYoMhW96sg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTYxODtjZj13ZWJw/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/d20de664d48fb8765944c2848f19681e" />9 / <!-- -->21</figure>
<p><strong>1970</strong>&#8211; Brazil wins 4-1 over Italy in Mexico.</p>
<figure><;<img src="https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/aFBnCn2Z4n8D0fEixcnQKA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTcwODtjZj13ZWJw/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/e4ffc61ec8d71401d0ac3ace00d2b980" />10 / <!-- -->21</figure>
<p><strong>1974</strong>&#8211; Germany wins at home in Munich over Netherlands, 2-1.</p>
<figure><;<img src="https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/R_inyLRNjRRNuYcFDORsCg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTYyNDtjZj13ZWJw/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/af7a6cf3f3e7da9d6be3be652b84558d" />11 / <!-- -->21</figure>
<p><strong>1978</strong>&#8211; Argentina wins it&#8217;s first World Cup 3-1 over Netherlands in Argentina.</p>
<figure><;<img src="https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/DKZNoEmdxk2X1oeQg4yJTA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY2NjtjZj13ZWJw/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/3f765b495f23a34fb397eeba8f80c06b" />12 / <!-- -->21</figure>
<p><strong>1982</strong>&#8211; Italy wins it&#8217;s third championship over Germany 3-1.</p>
<figure><;<img src="https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/zdd.XF_ZStBuTt9FnZGLAg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTEyMzk7Y2Y9d2VicA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/c472a106a61c77d068d3b0f82402aaeb" />13 / <!-- -->21</figure>
<p><strong>1986</strong>&#8211; Argentina wins over Germany 3-2.</p>
<figure><;<img src="https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/nU67NviRcinhagS_zgp53A--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTc2MTtjZj13ZWJw/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/81f359a373a846aa536ebce616e41b64" />14 / <!-- -->21</figure>
<p><strong>1990</strong>&#8211; Germany gets revenge on Argentina 1-0.</p>
<figure><;<img src="https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/.7.lrICL8phQDVgMvr47NA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MDtjZj13ZWJw/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/c1e6f8099d15954671d1eecdb48e995d" />15 / <!-- -->21</figure>
<p><strong>1994</strong>&#8211; Brazil defeats Italy 3-2 in penalties in Pasadena, Calif.</p>
<figure><;<img src="https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/YhOcoaZ9_4emwVtyGkBlrA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTk3MztjZj13ZWJw/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/dff14ca73bada7328238ba6d745b43a5" />16 / <!-- -->21</figure>
<p><strong>1998</strong>&#8211; France wins it&#8217;s first cup over Brazil, 3-0.</p>
<figure><;<img src="https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/y2g77B54odg.V4QBMnDNGg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY4NjtjZj13ZWJw/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/10178dc88c86a5cb7fdfb776fd2972f7" />17 / <!-- -->21</figure>
<figure><;<img src="https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/VQGmo7C_66f4Z5TZDpKlBA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY4NjtjZj13ZWJw/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/a7917c15461525a4ab2ab02bff53e9da" />18 / <!-- -->21</figure>
<p><strong>2006</strong>&#8211; Italy beats France 5-3 in penalties.</p>
<figure><;<img src="https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/QVUogp3SCVblF18wQjiJwg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTYxNTtjZj13ZWJw/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/76f5f6d8420915771435d6058e1c3e05" />19 / <!-- -->21</figure>
<p><strong>2010</strong>&#8211; Spain defeats Netherlands 1-0 in South Africa.</p>
<figure><;<img src="https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/9LlfK3paZ6L3fnEY0f3mTA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU4MDtjZj13ZWJw/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/213ba40b5210320e398373a5c42ef5e1" />20 / <!-- -->21</figure>
<figure><;<img src="https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/Yxg0hh1rmg7pktyc7l4dqA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MDtjZj13ZWJw/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/d2f7139e3ff9fc2c86e702ee53dc2852" />21 / <!-- -->21</figure>
<p><strong>2022</strong>&#8211; Argentina wins it&#8217;s third World Cup defeating France 4-2 in penalties.</p>
<p>Algeria is making its fifth-ever World Cup appearance. Its last appearance in 2014 was also its best as it reached the knockout stage for the first time. That year, Algeria pushed the eventual champion, <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/teams/germany/">Germany</a>, to extra time before bowing out. This year, Algeria can draw some inspiration from <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/teams/morocco/">Morocco</a>, which in 2022 became the first African nation to reach the semifinal of a World Cup.</p>
<p>The reigning World Cup champions will enter the 2026 tournament on the short list of favorites. It will mark Lionel Messi&#8217;s record-tying sixth and — likely — final World Cup, as the competition will serve as a sort of &#8220;last dance&#8221; for the soccer GOAT. Argentina could make history if it can repeat — only <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/teams/brazil/">Brazil</a> (1958 and 1962) and <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/teams/italy-women/">Italy</a> (1934 and 1938) have won back-to-back World Cups.</p>
<p>Austria is back in the World Cup for the first time in 28 years and will not be satisfied with just being there. Under renowned coach Ralf Rangnick — who is known for his <em>gegenpressing</em> style of play — Austria won six of its eight World Cup qualifiers to reach the 2026 tournament. That performance came after Austria won its group at Euro 2024 — ahead of <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/teams/france/">France</a> and the Netherlands. Austria will be a worthy challenger for Argentina in Group J.</p>
<p>Jordan is one of four nations that will compete in the World Cup for the first time — <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/teams/cape-verde/">Cape Verde</a>, <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/teams/curacao/">Curaçao</a> and <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/teams/uzbekistan/">Uzbekistan</a> are the others taking advantage of the tournament&#8217;s expanded 48-team field. This is a tough draw for Jordan, which will be hard pressed to get a result in a strong Group J.</p>
<p><strong>Key players:</strong> <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/players/4025827/">Yazan Al-Arab</a>, Musa Al-Taamari, <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/players/3912766/">Ali Olwan</a></p>
<p>Argentina vs. Algeria &#8211; Kansas City, 9 p.m. ET &#8211; <strong>Fox</strong></p>
<p>Austria vs. Jordan &#8211; San Francisco Bay Area, 12 a.m. ET (9 p.m. local) &#8211; <strong>FS1</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Argentina vs. Austria &#8211; Dallas Area, 1 p.m. ET &#8211; <strong>Fox</strong></p>
</li>
<li>Jordan vs. Algeria &#8211; San Francisco Bay Area, 11 p.m. ET &#8211; <strong>FS1</strong></p>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Argentina vs. Austria &#8211; Dallas Area, 1 p.m. ET &#8211; <strong>Fox</strong></p>
<p>Jordan vs. Algeria &#8211; San Francisco Bay Area, 11 p.m. ET &#8211; <strong>FS1</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Algeria vs. Austria &#8211; Kansas City, 10 p.m. ET &#8211; <strong>FS1</strong>
</li>
<li>
<p>Jordan vs. Argentina &#8211; Dallas Area, 10 p.m. ET &#8211; <strong>Fox</strong></p>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Algeria vs. Austria &#8211; Kansas City, 10 p.m. ET &#8211; <strong>FS1</strong></p>
<p>Jordan vs. Argentina &#8211; Dallas Area, 10 p.m. ET &#8211; <strong>Fox</strong></p>
<p><em>This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/soccer/worldcup/2026/06/07/2026-world-cup-group-j-preview-predictions-schedule/90288609007/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">2026 World Cup Group J: Preview, predictions, schedule</a></em></p>

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