Argentina beat Jordan 3-1 in the group stage, Group J.

The match formed part of the FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage, Group J, and was played at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Both sides entered the encounter looking to secure early points in a tightly contested group, with the stadium providing a vibrant backdrop for the opening weekend of the tournament.

How it unfolded

The first significant incident came in the 17th minute when Jordan’s Mohannad Abu Taha was shown a yellow card for a bad foul. The booking did not alter the flow of play, but it signalled Jordan’s intent to challenge Argentina’s rhythm. Just two minutes later, Argentina took the lead. Giovani Lo Celso delivered a precise free-kick that curled into the top left corner, giving the visitors a 1-0 advantage.

Argentina extended their lead before the break. In the 31st minute, Lautaro Martínez stepped up to convert a penalty, his right-footed strike finding the bottom left corner and pushing the score to 2-0. The early double put Argentina firmly in control and forced Jordan to chase the game.

Jordan responded in the second half. In the 55th minute, Mousa Al-Tamari capitalised on a cross from Ehsan Haddad, firing a left-footed shot from the centre of the box into the top left corner. The goal reduced the deficit to 2-1 and injected fresh belief into the Jordanian side.

Four minutes later, Jordan’s Yazan Al-Arab received a yellow card for a bad foul, marking the second booking of the match. The caution came as both teams regrouped, but the decisive moment arrived in the 80th minute. Lionel Messi, from a free-kick, unleashed a left-footed strike that slipped past the goalkeeper into the bottom left corner, restoring Argentina’s two-goal cushion at 3-0.

The final whistle was preceded by a late booking in stoppage time. Mohammed Abu Zraiq was shown a yellow card in the 90+4 minute for a bad foul, closing out a match that featured three bookings, all to Jordanian players, and no dismissals.

Standout performers

  • Giovani Lo Celso – opened the scoring with a well-taken free-kick in the 19th minute.
  • Lautaro Martínez – converted the penalty in the 31st minute to double Argentina’s lead.
  • Lionel Messi – added a late free-kick in the 80th minute to seal the win.
  • Mousa Al-Tamari – scored Jordan’s solitary goal in the 55th minute, demonstrating composure inside the box.
  • Ehsan Haddad – provided the decisive assist for Al-Tamari’s goal with a well-timed cross.

Match facts

  • Final score: Jordan 1-3 Argentina
  • Goals:
    • Giovani Lo Celso (Argentina) – 19'
    • Lautaro Martínez (Argentina, penalty) – 31'
    • Mousa Al-Tamari (Jordan) – 55' (assist: Ehsan Haddad)
    • Lionel Messi (Argentina) – 80'
  • Bookings:
    • Mohannad Abu Taha (Jordan) – 17'
    • Yazan Al-Arab (Jordan) – 64'
    • Mohammed Abu Zraiq (Jordan) – 90+4'
  • Venue: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas

What it means

The 3-1 result keeps both Argentina and Jordan active in their Group J campaign at the FIFA World Cup 2026. Each side will look to build on the performance as the group stage progresses, aiming to secure the points needed to advance further in the tournament.