Argentina vs Iceland – Match Preview and Team News

June 9, 2026 · Yahoo Sports

Argentina face Iceland in Alabama on Wednesday as the world champions conclude their preparations for the 2026 World Cup.

La Albiceleste are bidding to become just the third team to defend the World Cup this sunmer, after their success in Qatar in 2022.

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Lionel Scaloni has fitness concerns over a number of key figures, but will hope the fixture with Iceland can provide his squad with some much needed rhythm and minutes.

Argentina vs Iceland – Match preview and team news

Date: Wednesday 10th June
Kick-off: 2am BST.
Venue: Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn, Alabama

Argentina team news

Argentina will hope to give Lionel Messi some minutes as the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner returns gently from a hamstring issue. Messi was an unused substitute for the recent win against Honduras.

Emi Martinez is also dealing with a broken finger, and Juan Musso could again deputise in goal for the Aston Villa goalkeeper. Cristian Romero appeared as a substitute against Honduras after two months out at Spurs, though Julian Alvarez did not feature as he deals with an ankle issue.

First-team regulars Alexis Mac Allister, Romero, and Enzo Fernandez all featured in cameos against Honduras, but are all expected to return to the starting side.

Iceland team news

Iceland missed out on the World Cup for the second time in a row and will use this camp as a chance to build towards Euro 2028.

Among those included are two-cap Gísli Þórðarson, of Lech Poznan, and 20-year-old Daníel Guðjohnsen, the youngest son of former Chelsea and Barcelona striker, Eidur.

Iceland’s chief threat will come from Real Sociedad youngster Orri Óskarsson, who has scored nine goals in just 17 senior caps.

Form

Argentina

Argentina topped South America’s World Cup qualification, finishing nine points clear at the summit. The world champions were comfortably the highest scorers, led by the evergreen brilliance of Messi, who scored eight times.

Argentina are currently on a six-game winning streak and have lost once in their last 13 games, dating back to November 2024.

Iceland

Iceland, in contrast, are winless in five games, a run that includes a 4-0 thumping by World Cup co-hosts Mexico in February.

Arnar Gunnlaugsson’s side missed out on World Cup qualification after finishing behind France and Ukraine, taking seven points from their six games. However, Iceland did hold Argentina to a 1-1 draw in the only previous meeting between the teams at the 2018 World Cup.

Predicted lineups

Argentina predicted XI: Musso; Giay, Romero, Martinez, Tagliafico; Simeone, Mac Allister, Fernandez, Gonzalez; Martinez, Almada.

Iceland predicted XI: Valdimarsson; Thorhallsson, Gretarsson, Hermannsson, Magnusson, Tomasson; Ellertsson, G Thordarson, Baldursson, Gudmundsson; Oskarsson.