World Cup Hero
Predict the 2026 World Cup your way
Argentina and Croatia are in different groups at the 2026 World Cup. A direct meeting can happen from the knockout stage onwards. On the FIFA ranking, Argentina are the favourite — a 9-place gap.
WK 2022 halve finale: Argentinië wint 3-0, Messi assist op Álvarez. Kroatië wil revanche voor Modrić's afscheid.
| Argentina 🇦🇷 | Metric | 🇭🇷 Croatia |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | FIFA Ranking | #10 |
| Group J | Group | Group L |
| CONMEBOL | Confederation | UEFA |
| Lionel Scaloni | Head coach | Zlatko Dalić |
| 19 | WC appearances | 6 |
| World champion (1978, 1986, 2022) | Best WC | Runner-up (2018) |
Reigning champions, world number one, with Messi on his farewell tour — it's hard to think of more reasons to label Argentina the top favourite. Behind Messi stands a team that wins without him too: Martínez intimidates keepers, Mac Allister and Enzo Fernández control any midfield, Álvarez and Almada find the goals. Group J with Algeria, Austria and Jordan is a winning formality. The question isn't whether Argentina reach the quarter-finals, but whether Scaloni keeps them fresh until the final. A title defence would place Messi alongside Pelé and above Maradona. A semi-final is the minimum; anything less is failure.
Two consecutive World Cups in the last four (final 2018, third place 2022) — a statistical absurdity for a country of 4 million. The engine is Luka Modrić, who at 40 plays his fifth and absolutely last World Cup. Beside him, Kovačić, Sosa and Joško Gvardiol (Manchester City) carry the project forward. England are the favourites for group top in Group L; Croatia likely take second. Then comes what always happens: they go further than anyone expects. Dalić's tactic is to take more talented teams to extra time — and it often works. A semi-final is plausible; for Modrić it would be symbolic.
Set your 10 sliders and decide which teams win according to your model — including this dream matchup.
Start predicting →Argentina and Croatia are not in the same group. A meeting can only happen from the knockout stage (Round of 16 onwards).
On the FIFA world ranking, Argentina (#1) are favoured over Croatia (#10). The gap is 9 ranking places.
Argentina: World champion (1978, 1986, 2022) (19 World Cup appearances). Croatia: Runner-up (2018) (6 World Cup appearances).
Argentina are coached by Lionel Scaloni. Croatia are coached by Zlatko Dalić.
Argentina play in Group J. Croatia play in Group L.
Last updated: 2026-06-07