Group J Exact Finishing Order - Argentina/Austria @ 11/10
Algeria - Group Stage Points: 3 @ 13/4
Jordan - To Finish Bottom of Group J @ 1/4
Argentina were handed a very favourable draw as they bid to defend the World Cup this summer with the South American heavyweights taking on Austria, Algeria and Jordan in Group J.
Now 38, Lionel Messi is hoping to again inspire his country to glory on the biggest stage in what is expected to be his final World Cup. Europeans Austria are seen as the next best in the section, while Algeria will also hope to qualify for the knockout stage. However, Jordan, who are making their debut in the tournament, are expected to struggle.
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Argentina
Messi finally led Argentina to football's biggest prize four years ago in Qatar, but now in the USA, Canada and Mexico the defending champions are behind European nations Spain, France, England and Portugal and also continental rivals Brazil in the outright betting.
Messi may be 38 but is still a force to be reckoned with and the fact he plays his club football in the MLS could give him an advantage as he attempts to help Argentina become the first country since 1962 to win successive World Cups.
Lionel Scaloni is also predicted to leave his role as boss after the summer showpiece and he is, of course, a proven winner, leading his team to two Copa America triumphs alongside the Qatar 2022 success. As well as Messi, Argentina have top-quality attacking options to call upon such as Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez, while familiar names like goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, defenders Lisandro Martinez and Cristian Romero and midfielder Alexis Mac Allister are set to be integral members of their side. Argentina impressed in qualifying, winning 12 of their 18 games, and even though Messi is now much closer to retirement, they proved with last year's Copa America victory they are still a team to be feared. In what looks like a straightforward group, the reigning champions should comfortably make the last 32 and from there rising confidence levels could propel them to the latter stages again.
Austria
Austria have qualified for the first time since 1998 and will be eyeing at least the runners-up spot in Group J. After impressing early on at Euro 2024, they were disappointingly knocked out by Turkey in the last 16, but under the guidance of Ralf Rangnick are a hard-working, high-pressing outfit who can trouble the best on their day. Austria hammered Ghana 5-1 in a friendly in March before beating South Korea 1-0, and warmed up for the World Cup by edging out Tunisia 1-0 at the start of the month to make it three wins on the bounce. A reliance on ageing players like Marko Arnautovic, 37, and Michael Gregoritsch, who is 32, could hamper them but they do still have plenty of talent in their ranks such as Florian Grillitsch, Konrad Laimer and skipper David Alaba, who looks set to be fit following recent injury problems. Christoph Baumgartner has been ruled out of the tournament, though, in a blow to Rangnick, with the RB Leipzig star picking up a thigh injury earlier this month.
Algeria
Algeria missed the 2018 and 2022 editions after catching the eye when making it to the last 16 in Brazil in 2014.
Another run to that stage would be a notable achievement and they look set to battle Austria for second place in the group after doing well to reach the quarter-finals of AFCON at the start of the year - a tournament they won in 2019. Former Manchester City star Riyad Mahrez skippers the side, but at 35 he may struggle to replicate his best form this summer. Algeria will hope rising stars like Ibrahim Maza and Fares Chaibi, who play in Germany for Eintracht Frankfurt and Bayer Leverkusen respectively, can excel on the world stage, while forward Mohamed Amoura, who is another who has been playing in the Bundesliga for Wolfsburg, looks to be the main goal threat.
Jordan
Jordan are preparing for their first World Cup after finishing second behind South Korea in their AFC qualifying group. Viewed as huge outsiders to progress from Group J, Jordan are tipped to struggle against the more established nations in the competition, but they enjoyed a run all the way to the final of the Arab Cup last year, when beaten by Morocco, and did manage respectable 2-2 draws with Costa Rica and Nigeria in friendlies in March. However, in the build-up, they have been comfortably beaten by Switzerland (4-1) and Colombia (2-0), results which suggest they are facing an early exit this summer.
Who will win World Cup Group J?
It is extremely difficult to look past Argentina when assessing who will come out on top in Group J.
The reigning world champions could barely have asked for a kinder draw and the South Americans should get off to a winning start against Algeria before taking on their likeliest nearest challengers Austria in their second game.
Avoid defeat in that tie and Messi and co should have far too much class for Jordan, who are predicted to finish bottom of the section.
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Who will finish first and second in World Cup Group J?
Behind Argentina, Austria look to be the strongest of the other three teams and will be expected to join the South Americans in the round of 32 as runners-up.
They topped their group at Euro 2024, finishing above France, Netherlands and Poland, and will fancy their chances of starting well when they face Jordan on June 16, while the final group game against Algeria could prove decisive.
Who will be the top goalscorer from World Cup Group J?
It would be a surprise if the top goalscorer in the group is not Argentinian and, while it is tempting to suggest Messi will remind everyone of his world-class ability by dominating the group, Martinez or Alvarez could outshine the Inter Miami star, at least early on.
Martinez has 37 goals from 76 appearances for his country and has just banged in 17 in Serie A to help Inter Milan win the title, while Alvarez, who has 14 goals for Argentina, netted 20 for Atletico Madrid in all competitions in 2025-26.
Martinez gets the nod to top-score in the group after he was on target in Sunday's 2-0 friendly win over Honduras and he looks ready to help himself to more goals in a group stage in which Argentina could bag some big wins.
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