3 July 2026

Defending champions Argentina are set to begin their knockout campaign against Cape Verde on Friday in their Round of 32 clash at the Miami Stadium in Florida.

Date: Friday, 3rd July

Kick-off: 11 PM BST

Venue: Miami Stadium, Florida, USA

Argentina head into this crucial knockout fixture with a fully fit squad, providing manager Lionel Scaloni with a major lift ahead of the encounter.

Star forward Lionel Messi returns to the starting XI fully rested after coming off the bench in the final group-stage match against Jordan. Messi currently leads the Golden Boot race with six goals. Midfielder Alexis Mac Allister, who was also given a rest in that game, rejoins the starting lineup as well.

In defence, Tottenham Hotspur centre-back Cristian Romero has been declared fit after recovering from a minor knee concern sustained in the match against Austria. Romero is expected to line up alongside Lisandro Martínez at the heart of the defence. Up front, Lautaro Martínez is likely to start alongside Messi, with Julián Álvarez expected to feature as an impact substitute.

Scaloni is anticipated to deploy his strongest possible XI as the reigning world champions aim to continue their dominant run.

Cape Verde, on the other hand, welcome back key left-back Sidny Lopes Cabral after serving a one-match suspension in their final group fixture against Saudi Arabia.

However, head coach Bubista is facing major selection issues in midfield due to injury concerns. Midfielder Telmo Arcanjo has been ruled out with a muscle injury, while Jamiro Monteiro and Kevin Lenini are managing minor fitness problems and will be assessed before kick-off.

Despite these challenges, the Blue Sharks will look to their veteran goalkeeper Vozinha, aged 40, who has been one of the standout performers of the tournament so far.

Bubista is expected to set up his side in a compact 4-5-1 formation, focusing on a defensive low block intended to frustrate Argentina, control the midfield, and exploit counter-attacking opportunities.

Argentina enter the knockout stage in outstanding form, having recorded ten consecutive victories across competitions. The world champions topped Group J with a perfect nine points. They opened their title defence with a 3-0 win over Algeria, followed by a 2-0 triumph against Austria, and concluded the group phase with a 3-1 victory over Jordan, reaffirming their status as tournament favourites.

Cape Verde, making their World Cup debut, have been one of the surprise packages of the tournament, remaining unbeaten in the group stage. Built on a foundation of solid defensive organisation, they finished as runners-up in Group H with three draws. Their campaign began with a memorable 0-0 draw against Spain, followed by a thrilling 2-2 draw with Uruguay, and another 0-0 result against Saudi Arabia that sealed their progression.

Argentina: E. Martínez; Molina, Romero, Lisandro M., Medina; De Paul, Mac Allister, Fernández, Almada; Messi, Lautaro M.

Cape Verde: Vozinha; Moreira, Pico, Diney, S. Cabral; Lenini; Mendes, Duarte, Monteiro, J. Cabral; Livramento

Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the Argentina vs Cape Verde World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match live on ITV1.