"Argentina enter the 2026 World Cup as defending champions and, of course, their big challenge is to remain at the top of world football. The fact that this will be the 38-year-old Lionel Messi's last appearance is an extra incentive to win the World Cup again, something no team has achieved in more than 60 years (Brazil, 1958 and 1962)."
"Not only are we taking a first projection of their starting XIs based on form and fitness, but we are predicting their squads, formation and dissecting their strengths and weaknesses. After all, it's clear through this analysis that each of those countries expected to challenge for top honors this summer has a weakness somewhere on the pitch."
"Argentina's strength lies in their solid foundation, having won the World Cup four years ago in Qatar 2022 and the past two Copa América tournaments. The weak point? Beyond that established starting XI, the rest of the squad presents more unknowns than certainties. This is especially true on defense, where options at [depth] remain unclear."
As the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches with 100 days remaining, ESPN provides comprehensive analysis of major contenders and host nations. The coverage includes Power Rankings of the top 15 teams, detailed projections of starting XIs based on current form and player fitness, squad predictions, and tactical formations. Each analysis examines both strengths and weaknesses for nations expected to challenge for top honors. Argentina enters as defending champions with Lionel Messi's potential final World Cup appearance, building on their Qatar 2022 victory and consecutive Copa América titles. However, defensive depth beyond the established starting XI presents uncertainty. The analysis acknowledges that squad compositions will evolve as injuries occur and new talent emerges throughout the coming weeks.
Read at ESPN.com
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