World Cup 2026
Group J
The matches in Group J of the 2026 World Cup will be played between June 15 and June 26, 2026. The group features Argentina, Algeria, Austria and Jordan. With defending world champions Argentina and one of the tournament favourites drawn alongside three ambitious challengers, Group J promises plenty of intrigue and competition.
The opening match of Group J will take place on June 15, 2026, in Los Angeles, where Argentina will begin its group-stage campaign against Algeria at SoFi Stadium. Later that day, Austria and Jordan will meet in Vancouver. The remaining group-stage matches will be played in the United States and Canada.
The top two teams in the group will qualify directly for the knockout stage. In addition, the third-placed team may also advance to the Round of 32 through the ranking of the eight best third-placed teams. As a result, the race for qualification is expected to remain open until the final matchday of the group stage.
Participating Teams in Group J
| Pos. | Team | FIFA Ranking (1) | World Cup Appearances | Last World Cup Appearance | Best World Cup Result |
| J1 | Argentina | 1 | 19 | 2022 World Champion |
World Champion 1978, 1986, 2022 |
| J2 | Algeria | 28 | 5 | 2014 Round of 16 |
Round of 16 2014 |
| J3 | Austria | 23 | 8 | 1998 Group Stage |
3rd Place 1954 |
| J4 | Jordan | 63 | 1 | Debut | Debut |
From the Group Stage to the Round of 32
The top two teams in Group J qualify directly for the knockout stage of the 2026 World Cup. In addition, the eight best third-placed teams across all twelve groups can also advance to the Round of 32.
Third-placed teams are ranked according to the following criteria in order: higher number of points, superior goal difference, greater number of goals scored, Fair Play ranking and, if necessary, position in the FIFA World Ranking.
Possible Knockout Stage Fixtures
- Fri, July 3, 2026, at 5:00 AM (CEST) in Vancouver: Group B Winner vs. Third-Placed Team from Groups E/F/G/I/J
- Wed, July 1, 2026, at 5:00 AM (CEST): Group J Winner vs. a qualified team from another group
- Thu, July 2, 2026, at 3:00 AM (CEST): Group J Runner-up vs. a qualified team from another group
- A third-placed team from Group J may also qualify for the Round of 32 if it finishes among the eight best third-placed teams.
The final matchups will only be confirmed after the completion of the group stage, as they depend on the standings in Groups A to L and the ranking of the eight best third-placed teams.
World Cup 2026
Group Standings
| Pl | W | D | Lost | Goals | +/- | Points | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Argentina | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2. | Algeria | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3. | Austria | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4. | Jordan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 | 0 |
World Cup 2026
Fixtures & Results
Wednesday, 17.06.2026, 03:00 Uhr (CEST) in Kansas City
Argentina -:- Algeria
Wednesday, 17.06.2026, 06:00 Uhr (CEST) in Santa Clara
Austria -:- Jordan
Monday, 22.06.2026, 19:00 Uhr (CEST) in Arlington
Argentina -:- Austria
Tuesday, 23.06.2026, 05:00 Uhr (CEST) in Santa Clara
Jordan -:- Algeria
Sunday, 28.06.2026, 04:00 Uhr (CEST) in Arlington
Jordan -:- Argentina
Sunday, 28.06.2026, 04:00 Uhr (CEST) in Kansas City
Algeria -:- Austria
References:
(1) FIFA (2026). FIFA/Coca Cola Men's World Ranking. Retrieved on June 05 2026, from https://inside.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/men