Messi to Play in Argentina vs Iceland Final Pre-World Cup Friendly — Latest Team News

Lionel Messi will feature in Argentina's final pre-World Cup friendly against Iceland on 10 June 2026 at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Alabama, coach Lionel Scaloni confirmed — a key fitness check before Argentina open their World Cup campaign next Tuesday against Algeria. The match is ongoing: match data shows Argentina leading Iceland 1-0 in the second half. Scaloni said Messi will play but that the coaching staff will decide how many minutes he gets after a training session and a discussion with the player.

Why it matters

This is Argentina's last game before their 2026 World Cup opener against Algeria, making it the final opportunity to confirm fitness and combinations. Messi missed the previous friendly vs Honduras as he completed recovery from a muscle issue sustained on 24 May while playing for Inter Miami; his return to the pitch, even for limited minutes, is therefore a primary focus for Argentina and supporters.

Scaloni confirms Messi will play but minutes remain undecided

At a pre-match press conference Scaloni said: 'He is going to play; what I don't know is how many minutes. I still have to speak with him, we still have today's training session. We will see how many minutes to avoid taking any kind of risk, and we will decide then. But in principle, yes, he will get minutes.' That statement underpins Argentina's cautious approach to managing a player returning from a muscle issue in the final days before the World Cup.

Projected lineups

World Soccer Talk published Scaloni's projected XI for the game, which is expected to include a spine of regular starters and Messi partnering Lautaro Martínez up front. The projected Argentina XI is: Gerónimo Rulli; Nicolás Capaldo, Cristian Romero, Nicolás Otamendi, Nicolás González; Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister, Thiago Almada; Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martínez.

Iceland — who failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup and have used this window to blood players and prepare for the next cycle — were also given a projected XI: Hakon Valdimarsson; Logi Tomasson, Hordur Magnusson, Daniel Gretarsson, Stefan Thordarson; Dagur Thorhallsson; Kristian Hlynsson, Andri Baldursson, Gísli Þórðarson, Mikael Ellertsson; Brynjólfur Willumsson.

Second-half update

According to the supplied match data the friendly kicked off at 01:00 UTC on 10 June 2026 and is in the second half with Argentina leading Iceland 1-0. The match feed does not include who scored or the timing of the goal in the provided data.

• Lionel Scaloni has confirmed Messi will play against Iceland but the number of minutes is undecided.
• Argentina's final World Cup warm-up is being played at Jordan‑Hare Stadium in Auburn, Alabama.
• Match data shows Argentina leading Iceland 1-0 in the second half (kickoff 01:00 UTC, 10 June 2026).
• Messi missed the previous friendly vs Honduras while finishing recovery from a muscle issue with Inter Miami on 24 May.
• Iceland failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup and are using the international window to test the squad.

What happens next

Argentina will use the remainder of this friendly to fine-tune selection and match fitness ahead of their Group J opener against Algeria next Tuesday. Scaloni's final decisions on Messi's minutes will be taken after the team's training session and a conversation with the player; the team will then travel to the World Cup with any final fitness updates to be announced by the coaching staff.