Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has called for calm from the holders as they bid to avoid one of the greatest upsets of all time against unbeaten tournament debutants Cape Verde in the World Cup 2026 last 32.
Scaloni’s side advanced in serene fashion with nine points and the help of six goals from joint-top tournament scorer Lionel Messi, avoiding a surprise of the sort they suffered when Saudi Arabia beat them on matchday one in 2022.
“Teams usually change how they play against us,” said Scaloni, whose players face opponents standing 62 places below them in FIFA’s rankings.
“They defend and attack differently. When things get tough, we’re ready to dig in. That’s what matters most.”
Cape Verde produced an immediate shock at the finals, drawing 0-0 with 2010 world champions and reigning European titlists Spain on matchday one.
The Blue Sharks proved that was no fluke with a 2-2 draw against Uruguay and a goalless stalemate against Saudi Arabia, ensuring they finished ahead of both of those nations.
“We’ll try to do the impossible because we’ve already come this far by doing the impossible,” said Diney, a centre-back for UAE Pro League club Al-Bataeh, speaking to FIFA.
“We came here to compete with the best. Qualifying isn’t enough; we want to go further. We have to be heroes.
“We’ll take to the pitch knowing the world will be watching. The main challenge is stopping Lionel Messi.”
The winners of the tie will face Australia or Egypt, whose tie kicks off four hours earlier, in the last 16 in Atlanta on Tuesday (17:00 BST).
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World Cup 2026: Argentina v Cape Verde team news
Midfielder Telmo Arcanjo is an injury doubt for Cape Verde, who could restore left-back Sidny Lopes Cabral following suspension.
Assistant coach Humberto Bettencourt said Messi will not be man-marked. “We consider Messi to be a player who makes a difference,” he acknowledged, via Reuters.
“But we always look at the collective – the combinations that can be created, the spaces they may try to open up for Messi.”
Argentina will make numerous changes after initially resting the likes of Messi and Alexis Mac Allister in their 3-1 win over Jordan on matchday three, as well as keeping first-choice players including Lisandro Martinez and Enzo Fernandez on the bench.
Cristian Romero has returned to full training following a knee issue but right-back Gonzalo Montiel is out with a hamstring injury.
Lautaro Martinez will keep his place ahead of Julian Alvarez and Facundo Medina could start at left-back at Nicolas Tagliafico’s expense, according to Ole.
Argentina v Cape Verde: World Cup 2026 predicted line-ups
Argentina starting XI: Emiliano Martinez, Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martinez, Facundo Medina, Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez; Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martinez, Thiago Almada
Cape Verde starting XI: Vozinha, Steven Moreira, Pico Lopes, Diney Borges, Sidny Cabral, Ryan Mendes, Telmo Arcanjo, Kevin Pina, Jamiro Monteiro, Garry Rodrigues, Gilson Benchimol
Where to watch Argentina v Cape Verde: TV channel, live online streams
Kick-off on Friday is at 23:00 BST (18:00 ET / 15:00 PT). In the UK, live TV coverage is on ITV1.
Streaming is via ITV’s website and ITVX app, which is available on a vast variety of devices for viewing on the go.
World Cup 2026: Argentina v Cape Verde stats
- Lionel Messi has scored in each of his last seven World Cup appearances for Argentina, setting a new tournament record
- The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has 11 goals in total across that run (5 in the last 4 matches in Qatar 2022, 6 in three in 2026)
- Against Jordan on matchday three, Argentina became the second team to start two players aged at least 38 in a single World Cup edition, with Messi and Nicolas Otamendi following Brazil’s Thiago Silva and Dani Alves in 2022
- Nicolas Otamendi’s 17 World Cup appearances make the River Plate player Argentina’s most-capped defender in the competition history, ahead of Oscar Ruggeri (16)
- Since the start of Qatar 2022, Argentina have been awarded seven penalties in 10 World Cup matches
- Only Spain, Mexico and Brazil bettered Cape Verde’s record of two goals conceded during the group stage, with only La Roja and El Tri Spain keeping more clean sheets than the two they collected
- Cape Verde had 25.7% possession against Spain and were outshot 27 to six and 34.8% against Uruguay, with an attempts count of 12-17
- Against Saudi Arabia, however, they then had 51% of play, 15 attempts to their opponents’ seven and finished on an expected goals total of 1.39 xG to the Green Falcons’ 0.39
- They are the first debutants to go unbeaten in the group stage at the World Cup since Senegal in 2002
- Vozinha is the third goalkeeper in World Cup history to keep more than one clean sheet after turning 40, following Peter Shilton (three) and Dino Zoff (two)
World Cup 2026: Argentina v Cape Verde prediction
Argentina 1-0 Cape Verde
Argentina initially struggled and required Messi’s brilliance to navigate their first knockout-stage match in 2022, beating Australia 2-1. On Cape Verde’s form, the margin of victory may prove surprisingly tight again.
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