Argentina vs Austria Picks and Prediction for Monday, June 22, 2026
Use Code SSWC Argentina and Austria meet at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Monday at 1:00 PM ET in a matchup between the two Group J leaders at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Both teams opened the tournament with victories and sit on three points entering the second group-stage match. Argentina cruised past Algeria 3-0 behind a Lionel Messi hat trick, while Austria defeated Jordan 3-1 to earn its first World Cup victory in 36 years. With six points likely enough to secure advancement, this match could determine first place in the group. Argentina is favored at -175 on the moneyline, while Austria is listed at +500. Find today's value with our free World Cup picks.
Argentina Preview
Argentina looked every bit like a defending World Cup champion in its opening victory over Algeria. Lionel Messi delivered a historic performance, scoring all three goals in a 3-0 win while equaling Miroslav Klose's World Cup record of 16 career goals. The victory extended Argentina's winning streak to six matches and continued a run of dominant performances dating back to the spring international window.
Messi was the obvious star, but Argentina's overall performance was just as impressive. Rodrigo De Paul assisted the opening goal and controlled the midfield throughout the match, while Alexis Mac Allister and Thiago Almada consistently created dangerous attacking opportunities. Argentina finished with a clean sheet, limited Algeria to one shot on target, and never appeared under serious pressure.
The underlying numbers support the result. Argentina allowed only 0.32 expected goals conceded and continues to rely on one of the most organized defensive structures in the tournament. Emiliano MartĂnez was rarely tested, and the back line handled Algeria comfortably for the full 90 minutes.
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Argentina's attack remains difficult to defend because opponents cannot focus solely on Messi. Lautaro MartĂnez, Nicolás González, Mac Allister, and De Paul all provide additional threats, making this one of the deepest squads in the competition. Against Austria, Argentina should again be comfortable playing either through possession or in transition when opportunities arise.
Injuries: No major injuries reported entering the match.
Austria Preview
Austria opened the tournament with a 3-1 victory over Jordan, but the performance was less convincing than the final score suggests. Romano Schmid opened the scoring with an excellent strike, yet Austria needed an own goal and a stoppage-time penalty from Marko Arnautović to create the two-goal difference.
Still, there were positives. Austria controlled 63% possession and generated 1.66 expected goals while consistently applying pressure through the midfield. Xaver Schlager was influential in buildup play and assisted Schmid's opening goal, while Arnautović provided leadership and composure in key moments.
The concern entering this matchup is defensive consistency. Jordan found success on the counterattack and equalized early in the second half before Austria eventually regained control. Against Argentina, those defensive lapses become far more dangerous. Allowing space to Messi and Argentina's attacking midfielders can quickly lead to multiple scoring chances.
Austria enters in excellent form overall, unbeaten in its last five matches and riding a run of four wins and a draw. The confidence level is high, and manager Ralf Rangnick's system has produced consistent results. However, this will be Austria's toughest test in quite some time and a significant step up in class from Jordan.
Injuries: No major injuries reported entering the match.
Argentina vs Austria Pick
- Argentina Moneyline (-175)
Austria deserves respect after its strong recent form, but Argentina looks like the more complete team entering this matchup. The defending champions were dominant against Algeria, and Messi appears fully capable of carrying that momentum into another crucial group-stage match. Austria should enjoy periods of possession, but Argentina's ability to capitalize on mistakes and create chances from multiple areas of the field provides a clear advantage. The Albiceleste also possess the stronger defensive unit, which becomes especially important in matches between quality opponents.
Argentina vs Austria Over/Under Pick
- Over 2.5 Goals (-105)
Both teams scored three goals in their opening matches, and each enters with confidence in the attacking third. Austria plays an aggressive style under Rangnick and should not simply sit back for 90 minutes, which could create a more open match than Argentina faced against Algeria. Messi is in outstanding form after his hat trick, while Austria has shown enough attacking quality through Schmid and Arnautović to contribute to the scoring. Argentina remains the more likely side to do most of the damage, but a match featuring three or more total goals is likely.
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