Messi to Start on Bench as Argentina Look to Rotate Squad Against Jordan

Dallas, June 2026: Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has confirmed that captain Lionel Messi will begin Saturday’s FIFA World Cup Group J clash against Jordan on the bench, with the reigning champions opting to rotate their squad after already securing top spot in the group.

Speaking ahead of Argentina’s final group-stage fixture at Dallas Stadium, Scaloni said the decision was part of his plan to provide valuable game time to other members of the squad while keeping the team fresh for the knockout rounds.

“So Leo is going to start on the bench, and I’m not trying to avoid the question,” Scaloni told reporters. “You deserve a sincere answer. The rest of the lineup is already decided, but we’ll announce it tomorrow.”

Argentina have already booked their place in the Round of 32 after consecutive victories over Algeria and Austria. Having secured maximum points from their opening two matches, the South American giants are guaranteed to finish as Group J winners regardless of the outcome against Jordan.

The decision to rest Messi comes despite the veteran forward enjoying another outstanding World Cup campaign. The 39-year-old, who celebrated his birthday on Wednesday, has scored all five of Argentina’s goals in the tournament so far and appears to have fully recovered from the minor hamstring strain he suffered while playing for Inter Miami in May.

Scaloni stressed that squad rotation is essential in a long tournament and said every player in the Argentine camp deserves an opportunity to contribute.

“Those who are playing tomorrow deserve to play because they are part of this team,” he said. “The effort they put in every day during training, even when they are not in the starting eleven, is tremendous. They have earned this opportunity.”

The Argentina coach added that one of his biggest goals is to build a team capable of maintaining its high standards regardless of personnel changes.

“The dream for any coach is to have the team perform at the same level, irrespective of which players are on the field,” Scaloni explained. “When you wear the Argentina jersey, every match matters. Whether the points are crucial or not, the objective is always to win.”

Despite already sealing qualification, Scaloni expects Jordan to present a disciplined challenge. He noted that the Asian side generally employs a defensive five-man backline, meaning Argentina may need to adjust tactically during the contest.

“Jordan usually plays with five defenders. If we face certain difficulties during the match, we’ll have to adapt our approach accordingly,” he said.

While Messi is expected to feature later in the game, the encounter offers several fringe players an opportunity to impress ahead of the knockout stages.

Jordan, meanwhile, enter the match with nothing but pride to play for. The side has already been eliminated following defeats to Austria and Algeria and will be aiming to end its World Cup campaign on a positive note against one of the tournament favourites.

For Argentina, the focus now shifts from qualification to maintaining momentum while carefully managing the workload of key players before the knockout rounds begin. With Messi likely to play only a limited role, Scaloni will be hoping his squad depth once again proves strong enough to carry the defending champions into the next phase with confidence.