Argentina - Austria: score, highlights and statistics

Argentina, the reigning world champions, face Austria in their second Group J match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the group lead on the line before the decisive final round of fixtures.

Match Info: Argentina vs Austria

Argentina and Austria meet on 22 June 2026 at 18:00 BST at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Dallas, Texas. The fixture is the second group stage game for both sides in Group J of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Where to Watch Argentina vs Austria?

Viewers in the United States can follow the match on FOX on linear TV. Online options include FOX One, Foxsports.com, Fubo TV, and Peacock. Spanish-language coverage is available on Telemundo (TV) and Telemundo Deportes En Vivo (streaming), with radio commentary on Futbol de Primera Radio. Mexican fans can stream the match for free on VIX.

Canadian viewers can watch on TSN+, while Australian fans can stream the match on SBS On Demand. New Zealand has coverage via TVNZ+. Brazilian viewers can catch the action on CazéTV.

Across Europe, Italian subscribers can tune in to DAZN Italia, Spanish viewers have DAZN España, and French audiences can watch on 6play or beIN SPORTS CONNECT F.R.. Argentine fans can watch on DIRECTV Sports Argentina (TV) or DIRECTV GO online, with a free option on TV Pública.

Argentina vs Austria - Match Preview

Argentina, three-time World Cup winners (1978, 1986, 2022), enter as heavy favourites, but Austria - back at the World Cup for the first time since 1998 - arrive in Dallas armed with Ralf Rangnick's high-pressing system and genuine belief that they can cause an upset.

This is a matchday 2 fixture for both teams. Argentina needs a strong result to consolidate top spot in Group J heading into the final round, while Austria, absent from the World Cup for 28 years, recognise that a victory over the defending champions would rank among the most remarkable results in their football history. Lionel Messi - playing in his record sixth World Cup - remains the most dangerous individual on the pitch and the focal point of every opposition defensive plan.

Rangnick's gegenpress model has proven capable of unsettling higher-ranked opponents, and the Austrian midfield trio of Xaver Schlager, Nicolas Seiwald, and Christoph Baumgartner from RB Leipzig has the work-rate to contest Argentina's possession game. Yet Argentina counter with Enzo Fernández, Rodrigo De Paul, and Julián Álvarez - a combination that dismantled opponents throughout the 2022 cycle - and Emiliano Martínez in goal, one of the world's best shot-stoppers.

Head-to-Head: Argentina vs Austria

The match in Dallas makes history regardless of the result - Argentina and Austria have never previously met at a World Cup, and their entire shared record consists of 3 friendly internationals spread across more than four decades.

Here are all confirmed meetings between the two national teams:

• 3 May 1990 - International Friendly - Austria 1:1 Argentina (Vienna, Praterstadion, att. 45,000)
• 21 May 1980 - International Friendly - Argentina 5:1 Austria (Vienna) - Diego Maradona scored 3 goals
• International Friendly (prior to 1980) - result not confirmed in available records

Argentina - Recent Form

Argentina arrive at the 2026 World Cup on the back of 3 wins from 3 completed matches, having scored 9 goals and conceded just 1 - the form of a team that expects nothing less than the title.

Their most emphatic preparation result was a 5-0 demolition of Zambia on 31 March 2026, a statement victory in which Argentina controlled every phase of the game. Earlier, a 2-1 win over Mauritania on 27 March demonstrated Argentina's ability to grind out results when games do not run smoothly from the start. The previous November, they picked up a composed 2-0 away win in Angola, keeping a clean sheet on the road.

Goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, one of the world's best shot-stoppers, anchors the defensive structure. The midfield trio of Fernández, De Paul, and Mac Allister has built a deep understanding over years of playing together. Up front, Julián Álvarez and Alejandro Garnacho offer different but complementary dimensions to the attack, and Lionel Messi, even approaching 39, remains the player opponents dedicate the most defensive attention to.

Austria - Recent Form

Austria head into the 2026 World Cup in the best form of their modern era - 4 wins and 1 draw across their last 5 matches, scoring 10 goals and conceding just 3.

Their most convincing display was a 5-1 thrashing of Ghana on 27 March 2026, a result that underlined Austria's ability to produce dominant performances on the big stage. Austria then ground out a 1-0 win over South Korea on 31 March before securing another 1-0 victory over Tunisia on 1 June - back-to-back clean sheets that highlighted Rangnick's defensive organisation ahead of the tournament. The only blemish in this run was a 1-1 draw against Bosnia & Herzegovina in November 2025, which did not disrupt the momentum of the group.

Marcel Sabitzer (Borussia Dortmund) is the midfield engine - a player who combines pressing intensity with the ability to arrive late in dangerous areas. David Alaba and Marko Arnautovic provide leadership and experience, while the RB Leipzig trio adds depth and tactical discipline across every line of the pitch.

Facts and Statistics

5 key statistics about this World Cup clash between Argentina and Austria:

• This is the first ever World Cup meeting between Argentina and Austria - they have never faced each other at the tournament's final phase in its 96-year history.
• Argentina are three-time World Cup champions (1978, 1986, 2022) and arrive in 2026 as defending title holders.
• Austria return to the World Cup after a 28-year absence - their last appearance was France 1998.
• Austria's best ever World Cup result is third place, achieved in 1954 in Switzerland.
• Lionel Messi is competing in his sixth World Cup, more than any other player in history.