Argentina vs Cape Verde Islands: World Cup 2026 Round of 32 Preview

Argentina face Cape Verde Islands at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on 3 July 2026 in a World Cup Round of 32 tie. Argentina arrive as Group J winners with three wins from three and a +7 goal difference, while Cape Verde Islands progressed from Group H unbeaten after three draws and a neutral goal difference.

Both squads are expected to be close to full strength. There are no confirmed injuries, suspensions, or questionable absences listed for either Argentina or Cape Verde Islands, and no players are ruled out through yellow-card or red-card bans.

For Argentina, that means star forward L. Messi (6 goals in 3 appearances) is available and remains the focal point of their attack. His 15 shots and 9 efforts on target underline the volume of chances he generates, and his presence significantly boosts Argentina’s scoring potential.

Cape Verde Islands also report no sidelined players, giving them maximum flexibility to select from their full roster, including experienced figures such as Ryan Mendes, Garry Rodrigues, and Nuno da Costa.

Impact Summary

With no attacking contributors missing on either side, neither team suffers a measurable loss of attacking output based on current team statistics. Argentina’s edge comes from having one of the competition’s most prolific scorers in L. Messi available, while Cape Verde Islands rely on collective organisation rather than star power to threaten in the final third.