FIFA World Cup 2026 Today: Argentina vs Austria, France vs Iraq, Norway vs Senegal | Lineups, Head-to-Head & Predictions
Argentina vs Austria in Group J,
France vs Iraq in Group I,
Norway vs Senegal, also in Group I.
Argentina vs Austria | Group J Preview
Match Details
Date: Monday, June 22, 2026
Kickoff Time: 1:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. BST / 10:30 p.m. IST
Venue: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas, USA
Defending World Cup champions Argentina arrive in confidence after a stunning 3-0 victory over Algeria in their Group J opener, with Lionel Messi scoring his first-ever hat-trick.
Austria also edged past debutants Jordan 3-1 in their opener. Both teams sit on three points, with Argentina ahead only on goal difference.
Argentina Predicted Starting XI (4-3-3)
Emiliano Martínez (GK)
Nahuel Molina (RB)
Cristian Romero (CB)
Lisandro Martínez (CB)
Nicolás Tagliafico (LB)
Rodrigo De Paul (CM)
Alexis Mac Allister (CM)
Enzo Fernández (CM)
Nico Paz (RW)
Julián Álvarez (CF)
Thiago Almada (LW)
Messi is notably absent from this projected XI, with reports suggesting Scaloni may rotate his talismanic captain to protect him ahead of the knockout stages. However, the Inter Miami star is expected to be available from the bench.
Austria Predicted Starting XI (4-2-3-1)
Alexander Schlager (GK)
Konrad Laimer (RB)
Kevin Danso (CB)
Philipp Lienhart (CB)
David Alaba (LB)
Nicolas Seiwald (CDM)
Xaver Schlager (CDM)
Romano Schmid (RM)
Patrick Wimmer (CAM)
Marcel Sabitzer (LM)
Sasa Kalajdzic (ST)
Austria has created a high-pressing system, organised under Rangnick, with David Alaba leading from left-back and Sabitzer creating chances behind Kalajdzic.
Argentina vs Austria Head-to-Head
The two nations have met just twice before, both in friendly matches, with Argentina winning one and the other ending in a draw. Crucially, this is the first-ever meeting between Argentina and Austria at a FIFA World Cup.
Prediction
Argentina carry enormous firepower across every position, and even without Messi from the start, the quality of Julián Álvarez, Enzo Fernández, and Rodrigo De Paul should be enough to dominate a disciplined but physically limited Austrian backline.
Prediction: Argentina 2-0 Austria.
France vs Iraq | Group I Preview
Match Details
Date: Monday, June 22, 2026
Kickoff Time: 5:00 p.m. ET / 10:00 p.m. BST / 2:30 a.m. IST (June 23)
Venue: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
France head to Philadelphia with a chance to seal their Round of 32 qualification with a game to spare, following an impressive 3-1 win over Senegal in their opener, and Michael Olise produced a Man of the Match performance.
Iraq, making only their second-ever World Cup appearance and their first since 1986, face a mountain to climb after a 4-1 opening defeat to Norway.
France Predicted Starting XI (4-2-3-1)
Didier Deschamps is expected to line up with:
Mike Maignan (GK)
Jules Koundé (RB)
Dayot Upamecano (CB)
William Saliba (CB)
Lucas Digne (LB)
Adrien Rabiot (CDM)
Manu Koné (CDM)
Ousmane Dembélé (RW)
Michael Olise (CAM)
Bradley Barcola (LW)
Kylian Mbappé (ST)
Deschamps is expected to make several changes from the Senegal game, with Barcola earning a start after his cameo performance off the bench, and Manu Koné potentially making his World Cup debut ahead of Aurélien Tchouaméni. William Saliba is expected to push through a minor injury to start.
Iraq Predicted Starting XI (4-4-2)
Ahmed Basil Fadhil (GK)
Hussein Ali (RB)
Zaid Tahseen (CB)
Akam Hashem (CB)
Merchas Doski (LB)
Ibrahim Bayesh (RM)
Zidane Iqbal (CM)
Amir Al-Ammari (CM)
Ali Jasim (LM)
Aymen Hussein (ST)
Ali Al-Hamadi (ST)
Veteran goalkeeper Jalal Hassan is expected to start. At the same time, Ali Jasim is fit to return after recovering from a knock, and Zidane Iqbal will carry much of Iraq's creative responsibility in midfield.
France vs Iraq Head-to-Head
This will be the first-ever senior international meeting between France and Iraq, meaning there is no head-to-head history to draw on.
Prediction
France are overwhelming favourites in every metric, and the attacking firepower of Mbappé, Dembele, Olise, and Barcola represent a far greater challenge than anything Iraq faced against Norway.
Prediction: France 5-1 Iraq.
Norway vs Senegal | Group I Preview
Match Details
Date: Monday, June 22, 2026
Kickoff Time: 8:00 p.m. ET / 1:00 a.m. BST (June 23) / 5:30 a.m. IST (June 23)
Venue: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA
This is the standout clash of Group I on Monday night, two evenly matched, tournament-tested sides with contrasting opens and everything to play for. Norway spectacularly announced themselves with a 4-1 demolition of Iraq, with Erling Haaland scoring a brace.
Meanwhile, Senegal were genuinely the better side for much of the first half at this same MetLife Stadium, before a devastating French second half produced three goals. The 3-1 defeat leaves Pape Thiaw's side in a position where anything less than a win puts their Round of 32 hopes in serious risk.
Norway Predicted Starting XI (3-4-3)
Ørjan Nyland (GK)
David Møller Wolfe (CB)
Kristoffer Ajer (CB)
Julian Ryerson (CB)
Torbjørn Heggem (RWB)
Fredrik Aursnes (CM)
Sander Berge (CM)
Martin Ødegaard (CM)
Antonio Nusa (RW)
Erling Haaland (ST)
Alexander Sørloth (LW)
Arsenal's Odegaard pulls the strings from deep midfield while Haaland and Sørloth offer complementary threats up front, Haaland with his relentless movement and clinical finishing, Sorloth with his physicality and hold-up play.
Senegal Predicted Starting XI (4-3-3)
Edouard Mendy (GK)
Formose Mendy (RB)
Kalidou Koulibaly (CB)
Moussa Niakhaté (CB)
El Hadji Malick Diouf (LB)
Lamine Camara (CM)
Idrissa Gueye (CM)
Pathé Ciss (CM)
Ismaïla Sarr (RW)
Nicolas Jackson (ST)
Sadio Mané (LW)
The defining individual duel of this match is Haaland vs Koulibaly. The Senegal captain has 102 international appearances.
Norway vs Senegal Head-to-Head
Norway and Senegal have met only once in senior competition, a 2006 friendly that Senegal won 2-1. This is the first-ever competitive meeting between the two nations at any major tournament, and the first time they have been drawn together at a FIFA World Cup.
Prediction
This is the most fair-contested match of today. Norway have momentum, the most dangerous striker in the group, and a defensive structure that has been hard to break down. Senegal have the deeper squad, a wounded pride to restore, and attacking players capable of hurting anyone on their day.
Prediction: Norway 1-1 Senegal.
