Having played an emotional final competitive match in Argentina in September 2025, Lionel Messi can finish an astonishing international career by leading his country to back-to-back World Cup titles at the 2026 finals in the US, Canada and Mexico.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner turns 39 during the tournament and is Argentina’s record scorer and caps holder, leading to hyper-vigilance in his homeland around the fitness of the national hero and sporting icon.
Head coach Lionel Scaloni could also choose to use his talisman sparingly. La Albiceleste will hope to have won their section by the time they face debutants Jordan in their final match of the World Cup group stage.
Here’s the full confirmed and potential schedule for Messi at the FIFA World Cup 2026. You can also find out the UK TV schedule for the games here.
Messi World Cup fixtures: Confirmed schedule, kick off times
Argentina face Algeria, Austria and Jordan during the group stage. Here’s when those games take place and their subsequent fixtures, as well as how to watch in the UK.
| Date | Match | Result | Stage | Time (BST) | ET | PT | Channel |
| June 17 | Algeria | Group | 02:00 | 21:00 | 18:00 | ITV | |
| June 22 | Austria | Group | 18:00 | 13:00 | 10:00 | BBC | |
| June 28 | Jordan | Group | 03:00 | 22:00 | 19:00 | BBC | |
| July 1/2/3 | TBC | Round of 32 | TBC | TBC | TBC | TBC | |
| July 5/6/7 | TBC | Round of 16 | TBC | TBC | TBC | TBC | |
| July 10/11 | TBC | Quarter-finals | TBC | TBC | TBC | TBC | |
| July 14/15 | TBC | Semi-finals | TBC | TBC | TBC | TBC | |
| July 18 | TBC | Third-placed match | 22:00 | 17:00 | 14:00 | TBC | |
| July 19 | TBC | Final | 20:00 | 15:00 | 12:00 | BBC, ITV |
Is Messi playing in the World Cup 2026? Injury news updates
Argentinian alarm bells were ringing when Messi made way with a muscle injury during Inter Miami’s final match before the World Cup, but Scaloni said Messi “looked good” in training in an update the day before his team’s campaign began.
“We believe that everyone – not just Argentinians – wants to see him on the pitch,” said Scaloni. “I want to see him play, because that’s what he generates for everyone.
“For me, it will always be like that. I don’t see anything negative, honestly, [on the training] pitch.
“He’s been in different conditions but he’s always been there and has always been fundamental for us, so now he’ll be even more so.”
Lionel Messi World Cup fixtures: Knockout stage, full bracket
Should Argentina justify their status as favourites to win their group, they will face the runners-up from Group H in the last 32. Messi’s team will meet the winners of that section if they come second.
That could produce a tricky-looking tie against Cape Verde – who have already held Spain – a Saudi Arabia side who beat Argentina at the last edition of the finals or La Roja, the reigning European champions.
Argentina will face one of the group winners if they finish among the best-performing third-placed teams in the group stage. You can see the full bracket on FIFA’s site.
Lionel Messi next match at FIFA World Cup 2026
Messi’s next appearance at the World Cup is set to be in Argentina’s opener against Algeria in Kansas on June 17 at 02:00 BST.
World Cup 2026: Will Lionel Messi lift the trophy?
Argentina are among the favourites to win the World Cup and have kept almost all of the squad who won the trophy in 2022.
Barcelona all-time top scorer Messi top-scored in South American qualifying, netting eight times to help Argentina finish nine points clear at the summit.
Industrious fellow forward Julian Alvarez scored four goals at the 2022 finals, while Inter’s Lautaro Martinez averages almost a goal a game internationally and is Argentina’s second-top scorer under Scaloni.
One of Messi’s Inter Miami teammates, Rodrigo De Paul, is part of a formidable-looking midfield alongside the likes of Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez and Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister, with an experienced defence in front of Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, one of the stars of the shootout win over France in the 2022 final.
Spain, France, England, Brazil, Portugal and Germany are among the likeliest candidates Argentina will have to beat to the title if Messi is to win one more trophy on his international swansong.
Argentina World Cup 2026 squad: Full list of Messi teammates
Here’s the squad Messi leads at his sixth World Cup, having made a record 26 appearances at the tournament before the start of the finals.
Goalkeepers: Juan Musso (Atletico Madrid), Geronimo Rulli (Marseille), Emiliano Martinez (Villa)
Defenders: Marcos Senesi (Bournemouth), Nicolas Tagliafico (Lyon), Gonzalo Montiel (River Plate), Lisandro Martinez (Manchester United), Cristian Romero (Tottenham), Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica), Facundo Medina (Marseille), Nahuel Molina (Atleti)
Midfielders: Leandro Paredes (River Plate), Rodrigo de Paul (Inter Miami), Valentin Barco (Strasbourg), Giovani lo Celso (Real Betis), Ezequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea)
Forwards: Julian Alvarez (Atleti), Lionel Messi (Miami), Nicolas Gonzalez (Atleti), Thiago Almada (Atleti), Giuliano Simeone (Atleti), Nico Paz (Como), Jose Manuel Lopez (Palmeiras), Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan)
