Argentina beat Austria 2-0 in the 2026 FIFA World Cup on June 22, 2026.
Lionel Messi scored both goals, finding the net in the 38th minute and again in the fifth minute of added time.
The win sent Argentina into the knockout stage and also made World Cup history for Messi.
Key Takeaways
- Argentina beat Austria 2-0.
- Lionel Messi scored both goals.
- Messi scored in the 38th and 90 ‘+5 minutes.
- The game was played in Arlington, Texas.
- Messi reached 18 World Cup goals in this match.
- Argentina moved into the knockout stage after the win.
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Argentina vs Austria: Match Details

Argentina vs Austria was played on June 22, 2026, in Group J of the FIFA World Cup.
Argentina came into the game after a 3-0 win over Algeria. Austria had also won its first game, beating Jordan 3-1.
That made the match important for both teams.
A win would put the team in a strong place to reach the next round. Argentina took that chance and won the game 2-0.
The match was held at the Dallas-area World Cup venue in Arlington, Texas. More than 70,000 fans watched the game.
For Argentina, the biggest story was Messi. He scored twice and set a major World Cup record during the match.
Argentina vs Austria Score and Goals
| Team | Final Score |
| Argentina | 2 |
| Austria | 0 |
Argentina did not need many goals to win. Two Messi goals were enough.
Messi Opens the Scoring
Messi put Argentina ahead in the 38th minute.
The move started with Facundo Medina. Thiago Almada let the ball run, and Messi arrived at the right time.
He then used his left foot to send the ball into the net.
That goal was more than a normal opening goal.
It gave Messi his 17th World Cup goal. That moved him past Germany’s Miroslav Klose, who had scored 16 goals in the men’s World Cup.
Argentina went into halftime with a 1-0 lead.
Messi Scores Again in Added Time
Austria stayed close for much of the second half.
Argentina had chances to score again, but the second goal did not come until added time.
In the 90’+5 minute, Messi scored his second goal of the game.
The play began with Messi helping create the attack. Julián Álvarez got a chance in the box, but the Austrian goalkeeper made a save. Leandro Paredes then helped keep the move alive.
Messi got the ball again and finished the chance.
That made the final score Argentina 2-0 Austria.
The second goal also took Messi to 18 World Cup goals at that point in the tournament.
Argentina vs Austria Match Facts
Here are the main facts from the game:
| Match Fact | Argentina | Austria |
| Final score | 2 | 0 |
| Goals | Messi, Messi | None |
| Group | Group J | Group J |
| Date | June 22, 2026 | June 22, 2026 |
| Venue | Dallas-area stadium | Dallas-area stadium |
| Result | Win | Loss |
The game was also notable for one early miss.
Argentina received a penalty in the first half. Messi took it but missed the chance.
He later made up for it with two goals.
That made the match a good example of how quickly a game can change. Messi went from missing a penalty to scoring twice and breaking a major World Cup record.
Why the Match Was Important
The Argentina vs Austria game mattered for more than just three points.
Argentina was the defending World Cup champion. The team wanted to move through the group without making the final game too difficult.
The win gave Argentina six points from two games.
It also confirmed Argentina’s place in the knockout stage.
For Messi, the game had a different meaning.
His first goal moved him past Klose for the men’s World Cup scoring record at that time. His second goal pushed his total to 18.
Later in the 2026 World Cup, Messi added more goals and finished the tournament with 21 World Cup goals.
So, the Austria match became an important part of his record-breaking World Cup run.
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Argentina vs Austria: What Happened to Austria?
The loss did not end Austria’s World Cup run.
Austria still had a chance to reach the knockout stage.
In its final group game, Austria drew 3-3 with Algeria. That result helped Austria move on from Group J.
Austria then faced Spain in the Round of 32.
Spain won that game 3-0, ending Austria’s run in the tournament.
Argentina had a much longer run.
The team went through the knockout rounds and reached the World Cup final. Spain later beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the final.
Argentina vs Austria Head-to-Head
Argentina and Austria have met a small number of times at senior international level.
The 2026 World Cup meeting was especially notable because it was their first World Cup game against each other.
The earlier meetings were friendlies.
| Date | Match | Result |
| May 21, 1980 | Austria vs Argentina | Argentina won 5-1 |
| May 3, 1990 | Austria vs Argentina | 1-1 draw |
| June 22, 2026 | Argentina vs Austria | Argentina won 2-0 |
The 2026 meeting added another Argentina win to the record.
It was also the first time the two sides met in a FIFA World Cup match.
FAQs
Argentina vs austria today
There is no Argentina vs Austria match scheduled for today, September 27, 2026.
Argentina vs austria prediction
In their most recent meeting at the 2026 World Cup, Argentina were strong favorites and won 2-0, with predictions correctly favoring the defending champions.
Argentina vs austria live
The teams last played live on June 22, 2026, in the World Cup group stage, where Argentina defeated Austria 2-0.
Argentina vs austria 2022
Argentina and Austria did not play each other in 2022.
Argentina vs austria next match
No next match between Argentina and Austria is currently scheduled after their June 2026 World Cup encounter.
Argentina vs austria highlights
Highlights of their latest meeting show Lionel Messi scoring both goals in Argentina’s 2-0 World Cup win over Austria on June 22, 2026.
Austria vs Argentina World Cup
Austria and Argentina met for the first time at a World Cup on June 22, 2026, with Argentina winning 2-0 in Group J.
Argentina vs Austria World Cup 2026
In the 2026 FIFA World Cup Group J match on June 22, Argentina beat Austria 2-0 with both goals scored by Lionel Messi.
Conclusion
The Argentina vs Austria match ended with a clear 2-0 win for Argentina, but the score was only part of the story.
Messi was the main figure.
He scored twice, moved past Miroslav Klose’s men’s World Cup scoring mark, and reached 18 goals in the tournament’s history during the game.
Argentina also secured its place in the knockout stage.
Austria lost the game but did not leave the tournament at that point. The team later moved on from Group J before losing to Spain.
For anyone looking for the simple result, it was Argentina 2-0 Austria, with Messi scoring both goals.
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Hi, I’m Benjamin Dreyer. I enjoy exploring the English language and making difficult words simple to understand. At Defineexa.com, I write about word meanings, text abbreviations, acronyms, and internet slang. My goal is to give readers clear, accurate, and easy-to-read explanations that help them learn something new and use English with greater confidence every day.









