Team: Argentina

Argentina arrive as defending champions with Lionel Messi leading what could be his final World Cup campaign. The 2022 Qatar champions return largely intact, with Julian Alvarez, Lautaro Martinez, Rodrigo De Paul, and Enzo Fernandez supporting a squad with world class quality throughout. Coach Lionel Scaloni has built a team with unity, belief, and tactical intelligence that carried them to the title in Qatar. Argentina open on June 16 in Kansas City against Algeria, with further matches in Dallas. The entire soccer world will be watching whether Messi and Argentina can win consecutive World Cup titles.

Argentina were the first CONMEBOL team to qualify, securing their place on 25 March when Bolivia drew with Uruguay, guaranteeing the defending champions one of South America's six automatic berths.