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KUALA LUMPUR – Jafar Insya Reubee, an Acehnese expatriate residing in Malaysia, has voiced his support for the Argentina National Team in the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup.

According to him, the team known as the Albiceleste remains a formidable contender capable of advancing all the way to the final match.

Jafar, a well-known figure among the Acehnese community in Malaysia, is actively involved in various Acehnese community activities in the neighbouring country.

He believes Argentina’s experience and championship mentality will be their greatest strengths in facing the challenges of the 2026 World Cup.

“I continue to favour Argentina. They have a strong tradition, top-quality players, and a proven winning mentality.

I am confident Argentina can still compete and make it to the final,” said Jafar, who hails from Reubee Village, Delima Subdistrict, Pidie Regency, Aceh Province.

He also noted that although Lionel Messi is no longer in his prime, the captain’s influence remains significant for the team.

Messi’s presence, according to Jafar, is not only valuable on the pitch but also crucial in boosting the confidence of his teammates during major matches.

“Messi is the symbol of Argentina’s spirit. His experience is indispensable, especially in a major tournament like the World Cup,” he said.

Jafar added that Argentina’s regeneration process over the past few years has been quite successful.

The combination of senior players and young talents, he believes, makes the team under Argentina’s management remain highly competitive against other top nations.

While acknowledging that the competition will be intense with strong teams such as Spain, France, and Brazil in contention, Jafar remains optimistic that Argentina will deliver another outstanding performance.

“The World Cup is always full of surprises, but given the quality and experience of this team, Argentina is still among the strongest candidates to reach the final,” he remarked.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the first edition hosted by three countries — the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

The tournament is expected to be one of the largest football events in history, featuring a new format with 48 participating nations.

Argentina National Team Squad

The official Argentina squad for the 2026 World Cup, announced by coach Lionel Scaloni, is captained by Lionel Messi and includes many players from their 2022 World Cup-winning team.

Goalkeepers
Emiliano Martínez
Gerónimo Rulli
Juan Musso

Defenders
Nahuel Molina
Gonzalo Montiel
Cristian Romero
Leonardo Balerdi
Nicolás Otamendi
Lisandro Martínez
Nicolás Tagliafico
Facundo Medina

Midfielders
Leandro Paredes
Rodrigo De Paul
Alexis Mac Allister
Enzo Fernández
Giovani Lo Celso
Exequiel Palacios
Valentín Barco

Forwards
Lionel Messi
Julián Álvarez
Lautaro Martínez
Thiago Almada
Nicolás González
Giuliano Simeone
Nico Paz
José Manuel López

Predicted Argentina Starting XI (4-3-3):

Emiliano Martínez; Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martínez, Nicolás Tagliafico; Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister; Lionel Messi, Julián Álvarez, Lautaro Martínez.

Argentina has been drawn in Group J alongside Algeria, Austria, and Jordan, and will begin their title defence on 16 June 2026.

Match Schedule

Argentina’s group fixtures in the 2026 World Cup (Western Indonesia Time):

17 June 2026, 08:00 WIB – Argentina vs Algeria

23 June 2026, 01:00 WIB – Argentina vs Austria

28 June 2026, 09:00 WIB – Jordan vs Argentina

Messi Most Anticipated

The opening match against Algeria will take place in Kansas City on 16 June at 20:00 local time.

The second match against Austria will be played in Dallas on 22 June at 12:00 local time.

The final group stage fixture against Jordan is scheduled in Dallas on 27 June at 21:00 local time.

The most anticipated player, of course, is Lionel Messi, who will be making his sixth World Cup appearance for the defending champions, the Argentina national football team.