Jordan 1-3 Argentina: Messi cameo caps Argentina's flawless group run
If you skipped Sunday morning's match in Dallas, you missed a routine but ruthless Argentina performance. The favourites brushed Jordan aside to finish Group J with a perfect record, and Lionel Messi arrived off the bench to put a familiar stamp on the scoreline. Tidy, expected, and over before brunch.
Final score: Jordan 1-3 Argentina — kick-off was Sunday 28 June 2026, 10:00 AM Singapore time at Dallas (Arlington).
The storylines
Argentina leave Dallas exactly where everyone expected them: top of Group J with nine points from three matches and a flawless record. Giovani Lo Celso opened the scoring on nineteen minutes before Lautaro Martínez doubled the lead from the penalty spot, and the result confirms a side cruising into the knockout rounds with momentum, depth and a settled rhythm that few teams left in this tournament can currently match.
The afternoon's defining image arrived on the hour, when Lionel Messi was introduced from the bench. Twenty minutes later he had his name on the scoresheet, sealing the win on eighty minutes and reminding everyone why his minutes are being carefully managed. The ability to rest a talisman and still summon him to finish a game off is a luxury that should genuinely worry the rest of Group J's survivors.
Jordan's tournament ends without a point. After defeats to Austria and Algeria, this loss leaves them rooted to the bottom of the group and out, though Mousa Al-Tamari's well-taken strike on fifty-five minutes, set up by Ehsan Haddad, offered a flash of the quality that made the debutants worth watching. They depart having tested far stronger opponents, and that goal is a moment their supporters can carry home with pride.
The tactical battle
Argentina controlled possession and tempo from the opening exchanges, using Lo Celso between the lines to unlock Jordan early and forcing the penalty that effectively settled the contest before half-time. Jordan grew braver after the break and were rewarded through Al-Tamari, but the two-goal cushion meant Argentina never lost their shape. Introducing Messi for the final half-hour shifted the game's focal point, drawing defenders and opening the space he ultimately exploited himself.
Players to watch
- Lionel Messi (Argentina) — Came off the bench and scored within twenty minutes — proof his managed minutes still decide matches.
- Musa Al Taamari (Jordan) — Jordan's brightest spark, his fifty-fifth-minute goal showed the cutting edge that troubled even Argentina.
- Giovani Lo Celso (Argentina) — Opened the scoring and pulled the strings between the lines all afternoon.
What's at stake
Argentina finish top of Group J on nine points, sweeping all three matches to enter the knockout rounds as one of the form sides. Jordan, level on zero after three defeats, are eliminated. Austria and Algeria, both on four points, are left to settle the remaining qualification picture between themselves.
Key moments
- 19' — Lo Celso fires Argentina ahead
- 31' — Lautaro Martínez converts from the spot for 2-0
- 55' — Al-Tamari pulls one back, assisted by Haddad
- 60' — Messi introduced from the bench
- 80' — Messi finishes the scoring
FAQ
What time is Jordan vs Argentina in Singapore? Sunday 28 June 2026, 10:00 AM Singapore time (SGT).
Where is Jordan vs Argentina being played? At Dallas (Arlington).
What is the head-to-head record between Jordan and Argentina? Both arrived from contrasting Group J campaigns — Argentina unbeaten, Jordan still chasing a first point — and the gulf in tournament pedigree showed across a controlled ninety minutes in Dallas.