Argentina vs Iceland Preview: Team News, Predicted Lineups and Score Prediction

international Friendly | Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn, Alabama | June 10, 2026*

The stage may be a college football stadium in Alabama, but make no mistake — this is a match that carries genuine weight. Argentina and Iceland meet in an international friendly on Tuesday evening, and for the world champions, it represents one final chance to fine-tune their preparations before the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off in earnest.

For Lionel Scaloni's side, this is more than a box-ticking exercise. With injury concerns swirling around several key players and the defence of their Qatar title beginning in less than two weeks, every minute on the pitch matters. Iceland, meanwhile, may have missed out on World Cup qualification, but they arrive with plenty to prove — and a famous piece of history to draw inspiration from.

The two nations last met on football's biggest stage in 2018, when Iceland's physical brand of football earned a memorable 1-1 draw in Russia. That result still lingers in Argentine minds. Expect a competitive, purposeful encounter from both sides.

Argentina's Current Form

Argentina arrive at Jordan-Hare Stadium on the back of a composed 2-0 victory over Honduras in their opening warm-up fixture last weekend at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas. It was a controlled performance rather than a dazzling one — precisely what Scaloni would have wanted at this stage of the tournament build-up.

The reigning world champions are the class of the competition in Group J, where they face Algeria, Austria, and Jordan. Their squad depth is formidable, their system is well-drilled, and their core group of players has been together long enough to function almost on instinct. The 4-3-3 formation Scaloni has deployed in recent years remains the foundation, built around high pressing, fluid interchanges in midfield, and the creative brilliance of their attacking unit.

What Argentina are chasing here is rhythm. The squad has had limited minutes together in the lead-up to the World Cup, and Scaloni will be keen to give as many players as possible meaningful game time while continuing to manage his most important assets carefully.

Iceland's Current Form

Iceland's road to this fixture has been a difficult one. They narrowly missed out on World Cup qualification after finishing behind France and Ukraine in their qualifying group, collecting just seven points from six matches. It was a disappointing campaign that confirmed the gap between Iceland and Europe's elite remains a significant one.

Their most recent competitive result — a 1-0 defeat to Japan in a pre-tournament friendly — underlined that reality. Arnar Gunnlaugsson's side are physically imposing and well-organised defensively, but they struggle to create and convert chances against higher-quality opposition. Set pieces remain their most potent attacking weapon, and their ability to defend deep and absorb pressure is genuinely difficult to deal with.

Against Argentina, Iceland are likely to sit compact in a low defensive block, cede possession, and look to frustrate. If they can limit spaces in behind and keep Messi quiet, they may have enough to nick something from the game. It is a familiar approach — but against this Argentina side, executing it to perfection is a different matter entirely.

 

Players to Watch

Lionel Messi — Argentina

There is no escaping the central story of this fixture: Lionel Messi's return to the pitch. The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner was an unused substitute against Honduras after picking up a hamstring issue in Inter Miami's MLS clash with Philadelphia Union on May 24. Scaloni has confirmed he will feature against Iceland, though the exact number of minutes remains to be determined.

Messi's importance to Argentina transcends statistics. When he is on the pitch, opponents must account for him at all times — and that creates space for everyone around him. His ability to find pockets between the lines, combine at pace, and deliver in decisive moments makes him the most unpredictable attacking player in the sport. How sharp he looks against Iceland will be one of the most closely watched storylines of the evening.

Albert Gudmundsson — Iceland

If Iceland are to cause problems, much of it will flow through Albert Gudmundsson. The 28-year-old forward is his nation's most technically gifted player, capable of operating as an attacking midfielder or a second striker. His movement off the ball is exceptional — constantly drifting into pockets, losing markers, and arriving in dangerous areas.

Gudmundsson was Iceland's top scorer during World Cup qualifying, netting four times, and he has proven himself capable of performing in high-pressure environments at club level in Serie A. If there is a route to goal for Iceland, it almost certainly runs through him.

Team News

Argentina are dealing with a handful of injury concerns ahead of the fixture. Goalkeeper Emi Martinez is managing a broken finger, meaning Juan Musso is set to deputise between the posts again. Cristian Romero made his return from a two-month absence as a substitute against Honduras, and Scaloni will need to decide whether to hand him a start here. Julian Alvarez remains sidelined with an ankle issue and is expected to miss the friendly. Gonzalo Montiel is the only confirmed absentee through injury. Messi, as confirmed by Scaloni, will feature in some capacity.

Iceland have no significant injury concerns and are expected to have a fully available squad to choose from, giving Gunnlaugsson the luxury of fielding his strongest possible side.

Predicted Lineups

Argentina (4-3-3)

Musso; Giay, Romero, L. Martinez, Tagliafico; G. Simeone, Mac Allister, E. Fernandez; N. Gonzalez, L. Martinez, Almada

Messi expected to come on as a second-half substitute.*

Iceland (4-5-1)

Valdimarsson; Thorhallsson, Gretarsson, Hermannsson, Magnusson; Ellertsson, G. Thordarson, Baldursson, Gudmundsson, Tomasson; Oskarsson

 

Key Tactical Battle

The most fascinating matchup of the evening is likely to unfold between Argentina's attacking midfielders and Iceland's disciplined defensive structure. Alexis Mac Allister and Enzo Fernandez — both Premier League regulars — will look to dictate possession and find the killer pass through a compact Iceland block that will sit in two rigid banks of four and five.

Iceland's tactical plan is straightforward but effective: deny space in behind, force Argentina to build through the middle rather than in behind the full-backs, and win second balls in the midfield press. When they win possession, quick transitions to Gudmundsson and Oskarsson will be their primary threat.

Argentina's wide players — likely Nico Gonzalez and Thiago Almada — will be asked to stretch Iceland's shape, drag defenders out of position, and create the central corridors through which Mac Allister and Fernandez can penetrate. The pace and movement of Argentina's front three should eventually prove too much for Iceland's rearguard to manage over 90 minutes — particularly if Messi comes on and raises the tempo.

Set pieces will be another key battleground. Iceland's aerial presence from dead-ball situations is well-documented, and Scaloni's backline — still rebuilding chemistry with the returning Romero — will need to be alert from corners and free-kicks throughout.

 

Match Prediction

On paper, the gap between these two sides is considerable. Argentina carry the quality, cohesion, and experience of world champions preparing for a title defence. Iceland are a team without a World Cup to play in, using this as a development exercise.

The early stages may be cagey, with Iceland doing their best to limit Argentina's space and frustrate their build-up play. But as the match opens up — and with the likely introduction of Messi from the bench — Argentina's quality should tell. Their attacking depth and midfield control give them too many problems for Iceland to manage across the full duration of the match.

A second-half surge from Argentina, particularly once Messi enters the fray and the pace of the game increases, looks the most likely narrative.

Predicted Score: Argentina 3-0 Iceland

What Fans Should Expect

This fixture offers something for every type of football supporter. Those watching primarily for the spectacle will be treated to Argentina's slick, possession-based attacking football and, in all likelihood, at least a cameo from the greatest player of his generation. Tactical enthusiasts will enjoy studying how Iceland's defensive organisation attempts to neutralise a technically superior opponent.

Most intriguingly, this match offers a first proper look at Argentina's likely World Cup starting lineup — and a chance to assess just how quickly key players like Romero and Messi can rediscover their best form after injury lay-offs. The answers could tell us a great deal about how far the champions can go this summer.

In the very end 

Argentina vs Iceland may be billed as a friendly, but the stakes for the world champions are very real. With the World Cup just days away, Scaloni needs his squad firing on all cylinders — and the fitness and form of Messi, Romero, and Emi Martinez will dominate the pre-match conversation.

Iceland, for their part, will be desperate to give another good account of themselves against one of the most celebrated squads in world football, just as they did in Nizhny Novgorod eight years ago. Whether they can recreate that magic remains to be seen.

One thing is certain: when Lionel Messi walks onto the pitch at Jordan-Hare Stadium, all eyes will be on him. And if the greatest player of all time is ready to perform, Argentina will be in very good shape heading into the 2026 World Cup.

*Don't miss kick-off at 1:00 PM ET on ESPN and ESPN Deportes.*