Messi one goal from history as Argentina open against Austria

Messi chases history in Group J opener

Argentina vs Austria, Monday at 19:00 local time at AT&T Stadium in Arlington (1) (2) (4). Lionel Messi needs one goal to become the World Cup's all-time leading scorer. Your team opens its 2026 campaign in a group that also includes Jordan and Algeria (1). Scaloni's side carries the weight of history: Argentina lost its first match after winning the previous World Cup on both prior occasions.

Dallas has turned Albiceleste

The fans have taken over. Argentine supporters flooded Dallas ahead of the opener, bringing the noise and color that follows this team everywhere (3). Three fans cycled over 17,000 kilometers from Gualeguaychú to Kansas City, and then on to Dallas, just to be there. That energy will fill AT&T Stadium.

Fan reactions

The mood online is tense anticipation. Argentina's opener against Austria sits at the top of Monday's World Cup discussion threads, with fans acutely aware of the team's poor record in tournament openers as defending champions. The match thread is pinned and waiting. Read the discussion