Jordan vs Argentina Prediction: World Cup 2026 Preview & Best Bets
Jordan make their World Cup debut against the reigning champions in Dallas, and the gap in class could hardly be wider — but can the debutants find anything to celebrate on the grandest stage of all?…
Jordan vs Argentina | Group J, Matchday 17 | Saturday 27 June 2026 | 21:00 local (02:00 BST) | AT&T Stadium, Dallas (Arlington), USA
Group J standings heading into Matchday 17: Argentina top on 6 points (P2 W2 D0 L0, GD +5), Austria second on 3 points, Algeria third on 3 points, Jordan bottom on 0 points (P2 W0 D0 L2, GD -3). TV: ITV / BBC.
Visit biznow.biz for more information.
POPULAR
Best World Cup 2026 Welcome Bonus
10 EXCEPTIONAL
Highbet
Highbet
Bet £10 and Get a £20 Free bet
What’s At Stake
Argentina are already through and top of Group J with a perfect six points, meaning this match is a dead rubber for Lionel Scaloni’s side in terms of qualification — though goal difference could yet become relevant if Austria and Algeria cancel each other out. For Jordan, defeat ends their debut World Cup with three losses from three, but a historic first win — or even a first goal from Musa Al-Taamari or Ali Olwan — would give the nation something genuine to carry home from their maiden appearance on the grandest stage in football.
Verdict
Argentina to win and over 3 goals looks the play here: Scaloni’s side have scored five without reply across two group games, and Jordan have shipped five themselves while failing to keep a clean sheet. Back Argentina to win and over 3.5 goals in the match at the best available price with leading operators.
Jordan vs Argentina Match Preview
This is the fixture that encapsulates everything extraordinary about an expanded 48-team World Cup. Jordan, making their first-ever appearance at the finals after qualifying through the AFC playoff route, line up against a side that has won the tournament three times and arrives in Dallas defending the crown lifted in Qatar in 2022. There is no needle, no history, no decades-old rivalry to stoke the atmosphere — just the sheer, vertiginous contrast between a nation playing its first competitive match on this stage and arguably the most decorated squad in the tournament.
For Argentina, with qualification secured, Scaloni faces a selection dilemma: does he rest key figures ahead of the knockout rounds or let the likes of Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martinez and Julian Alvarez add to their already impressive tournament tallies? Messi, whose five goals in two World Cup 2026 matches have already pushed his finals record into extraordinary territory, is the obvious box-office draw for a sold-out AT&T Stadium crowd. The temptation to protect him physically will be real; equally, Argentina’s intensity rarely drops regardless of rotations under Scaloni.
Jordan’s best hope is to stay compact, limit Argentina’s angles in behind and find the odd moment on the counter through Musa Al-Taamari, who plays his club football at Rennes. Head coach J. Sellami will know that a low block and disciplined shape gave Algeria and Austria problems in earlier rounds — but Argentina are a different proposition entirely, with the pace and movement to break down even the most stubborn defensive organisation. A Jordan goal would be a genuine cause for celebration, but containing the reigning champions to a tight margin of defeat would represent real progress.
Team Form
Jordan — Last 5
– Algeria (H): Lost 1-2 (FIFA World Cup)
– Austria (A): Lost 1-3 (FIFA World Cup)
– Colombia (N): Lost 0-2 (Friendly)
– Switzerland (A): Lost 1-4 (Friendly)
– Nigeria (N): Drew 2-2 (Friendly)
Jordan have not won in their last five matches, but the context matters. Both World Cup opponents — Algeria and Austria — are credible European and African sides, and Jordan managed a goal in both games despite the defeats. Pre-tournament friendlies against Colombia and Switzerland showed the class gap against higher-ranked opposition, though that 2-2 draw with Nigeria offered a glimpse of Jordan’s attacking threat through Olwan and Al-Taamari.
Argentina — Last 5
– Austria (H): Won 2-0 (FIFA World Cup)
– Algeria (H): Won 3-0 (FIFA World Cup)
– Iceland (N): Won 3-0 (Friendly)
– Honduras (N): Won 2-0 (Friendly)
– Zambia (H): Won 5-0 (Friendly)
Five wins from five, four clean sheets, and 15 goals scored. Argentina have not conceded a single goal in any of those five matches, which is a remarkable run given the calibre of the preparation fixtures and the group-stage opposition faced. Scaloni’s defensive organisation under Cristian Romero and Nicolas Otamendi has looked as assured as at any point since the 2022 World Cup, while the attacking output — spread across Messi, Lautaro Martinez, Julian Alvarez and Thiago Almada — has been relentless.
Team News
Jordan
Jordan arrive at this fixture with their squad essentially intact and no major injury concerns reported ahead of the match. With nothing to lose and their World Cup debut drawing to a close, Sellami is expected to name his strongest available XI for the occasion. Musa Al-Taamari, the most recognisable name in the squad thanks to his club career at Rennes, is expected to lead the attacking line alongside the tournament’s joint top scorer for Jordan, Ali Olwan, who has found the net once alongside Nizar Al-Rashdan in Group J.
The defence is built around experienced campaigners: Ihsan Haddad (92 caps) and Yazan Al-Arab (80 caps) provide the leadership at the back, while Rajaei Ayed (72 caps) anchors the midfield. Jordan are playing with freedom rather than pressure at this point, which occasionally unlocks something unexpected from a debutant side. Do not expect wholesale changes from the XI that performed reasonably against Algeria.
Argentina
Argentina have no injury concerns of note reported in the lead-up to this fixture. The interesting question is around rotation: with six points already banked and qualification confirmed, Scaloni may choose to rest one or two senior figures and give fringe players some meaningful minutes ahead of the knockout stage. Players such as Giovani Lo Celso, Exequiel Palacios and Nico Paz could see increased involvement, while Gerónimo Rulli might replace Emiliano Martinez between the posts.
That said, Argentina’s squad depth is formidable. Even a rotated line-up still contains world-class operators: Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister and Enzo Fernandez have all been sharp in the group stage, and Scaloni has the luxury of keeping Messi fresh while knowing the players stepping in are of the highest calibre. Lautaro Martinez, who has eight goals in recent competitive matches, will be hungry to add to his World Cup tally.
Predicted Lineups
Jordan (4-3-3): Abulaila; Al-Arab, Haddad, Nasib, Abu Hashish; Ayed (c), Al-Rawabdeh, Al-Rashdan; Al-Taamari, Olwan, Abu Zrayq.
Argentina (4-3-3): E. Martinez; Montiel, Romero, Otamendi (c), Tagliafico; De Paul, Mac Allister, Fernandez; Almada, L. Martinez, Messi.
Predicted XIs — squads to be confirmed.
Key Tactical Matchup
The central battle is between Jordan’s defensive midfield and Argentina’s relentless pressing and movement in transition. Rajaei Ayed and Noor Al-Rawabdeh will be tasked with screening the back four and preventing Alexis Mac Allister and Enzo Fernandez from dictating rhythm in the middle of the park — two midfielders who have been sharp and direct across Argentina’s two World Cup 2026 wins. Jordan conceded five goals in two group games, suggesting their defensive shape can be unlocked by patient, technical build-up play, and Argentina’s ability to shift the ball quickly from deep into the channels will expose that vulnerability. If Jordan’s midfield lines drop too deep, Messi and Thiago Almada will find pockets of space between the lines to combine at will.
Best Bets
POPULAR
Best World Cup 2026 Welcome Bonus
10 EXCEPTIONAL
Betfred
Betfred
Bet and Get New Bettor Bonus of £50 in Free Bets
9.9 EXCEPTIONAL
Highbet
Highbet
Bet £10 and Get a £20 Free bet
9.8 EXCEPTIONAL
Parimatch
Parimatch
Sports Welcome Offer Bet and Get for a £20 Free Bet
Main Pick: Argentina to Win
Argentina to Win @ 1/5 — The gap in quality is significant on every metric. Argentina have won all five of their last five matches without conceding a goal, and Jordan have failed to win any of their last five. Even with rotation, Scaloni’s squad depth ensures a full-strength second XI that Jordan simply cannot match. This is as close to a banker as Group J offers.
Goals Market: Over 3 Goals
Over 3 Goals @ 11/10 — Argentina scored three or more in three of their last five matches and Jordan conceded four against Switzerland before the tournament. With Jordan needing to push forward late to chase a consolation, space opens up for Argentina on the counter. The over-3 line at 11/10 represents genuine value in a match that could easily end 4-0 or 4-1.
Scorer Market: Lautaro Martinez Anytime
Lautaro Martinez to Score Anytime — Martinez has eight goals in Argentina’s recent competitive run-in and will be motivated to make his mark in a World Cup 2026 group match that gives him minutes and rhythm heading into the knockout rounds. With Jordan’s defensive record under pressure throughout the tournament, Martinez is a strong anytime scorer pick at the best available price.
Bet Builder Option
Jordan vs Argentina Bet Builder: Argentina Win + Over 3 Goals + Lautaro Martinez to Score — Combining Argentina to win, over 3 goals in the match, and Lautaro Martinez to find the net at any point ties the three angles above into a single Jordan vs Argentina bet builder. Each leg has strong statistical backing, and the combination offers a materially better return than any single selection alone.
Odds Across Operators
Best available prices for Jordan vs Argentina, sourced from leading operators. Fractional odds correct at time of writing.
Argentina are strong favourites at 1/5 with the best available price across 11 operators. Jordan’s odds of 15/1 reflect their status as debutants who have lost both previous group games and are yet to register a point. The draw at 13/2 is the outside chance in a match where a point would represent a famous result for Jordan.
How to Watch + How to Bet
How to Watch
Jordan vs Argentina kicks off at 21:00 local time (02:00 BST on 28 June) at AT&T Stadium in Dallas (Arlington). The match is live and free-to-air in the UK on ITV and BBC, with streaming available via ITV Hub and BBC iPlayer. It is one of the marquee matches of the group stage, with AT&T Stadium’s capacity of around 80,000 making it one of the largest venues in use at World Cup 2026.
How to Bet
New to betting on the World Cup 2026? Here is how to get started safely and simply:
- Choose a licensed, UK Gambling Commission-regulated operator.
- Register your account and verify your identity.
- Deposit funds using your preferred payment method.
- Navigate to the football or World Cup 2026 section.
- Search for Jordan vs Argentina under Group J fixtures.
- Select your market — match result, goals, or a Jordan vs Argentina bet builder.
- Enter your stake, review your bet slip, and confirm.
- Watch the match live on ITV or BBC and track your bet in real time.
Responsible Gambling
Betting should always be enjoyable. Set a deposit limit before you start, never chase losses, and only wager what you can afford to lose. If gambling stops being fun, support is available 24/7. Visit BeGambleAware or call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133. You must be 18 or over to bet in the UK.
[morestories category=8]
Read full story at source
