Report by TribunJatim.com journalist, Khairul Amin

TRIBUNJATIM.COM, SURABAYA – The 2026 FIFA World Cup is just around the corner, and the excitement is reaching Indonesia as well.

The global football spectacle, held every four years, will take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, 2026.

The 2026 World Cup will be the largest tournament in the history of the competition.

For the first time, it will be hosted by three countries and feature 48 national teams, an increase from the previous 32-team format.

This World Cup fever has also reached Madura United’s main goalkeeper, Mochammad Diky Indriyana.

Among the numerous participating nations, the 28-year-old shot-stopper is placing his bet on Argentina.

“I’m backing Argentina because they are the defending champions,” said Diky Indriyana to TribunJatim.com on Friday (May 29, 2026).

Argentina were the winners of the last edition, the 2022 World Cup, after defeating France in the final.

That victory marked Argentina’s third World Cup title in history, following their triumphs in 1978 and 1986.

They have also finished as runners-up three times — in 1930, 1990, and 2014.

“Argentina have a lot of star players,” Diky Indriyana added.

The Argentine national team will enter the 2026 World Cup with a star-studded line-up.

Lionel Messi remains the central figure and captain of the Argentina squad under head coach Lionel Scaloni.

Messi will be supported by a host of experienced stars, including goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, midfielder Enzo Fernandez, and prolific forwards Lautaro Martinez and Julian Alvarez.

Argentina have been drawn into Group J for the 2026 World Cup along with Algeria, Austria, and Jordan.

Speaking about the intensity of the group stage, Diky believes Group H will see the toughest competition.

“In my opinion, Group H will be the most exciting one because there are Spain, Saudi Arabia, and Uruguay,” he stated.

Group H consists of four nations: Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, and Uruguay.

Spain remains one of the world’s football powerhouses.

However, the Spanish national team has only won the World Cup once, in 2010, when they defeated the Netherlands in the final.

In the most recent 2022 edition, Spain only managed to reach the round of 16.

Uruguay, on the other hand, are a formidable team in Group H, having lifted the World Cup trophy twice — in 1930 and 1950 — and finishing fourth in both the 1954 and 2010 tournaments.

Saudi Arabia are considered a strong Asian contender against European teams, even though their best World Cup performance was reaching the round of 16 in 1994.

Meanwhile, Cape Verde, an island nation in Africa, will be making their World Cup debut.

They will be the second least-populated country ever to qualify for the tournament, just above Iceland, who also earned a place in the 2026 World Cup.