FULL TIME! Argentina 2-0 Austria match report, highlights and full match replay

What is the next FIFA World Cup game?

The next match in the FIFA World Cup 2026 is a Group I clash between France and Iraq.

READ MORE: Watch France vs Iraq

If you missed the Group J battle between Argentina and Austria at Atlanta Stadium, you don't have to stay in the dark. Because the final whistle has just blown, official highlight packages are dropping right now.

To catch all the goals, near-misses, and crucial VAR decisions, your best bet is to look directly to FOX’s premium World Cup coverage. As the exclusive English-language broadcaster for the tournament in the United States, they provide the quickest and highest-quality recaps available.

For a complete, updated directory of where to stream on-demand game footage, check out Goal's comprehensive guide on how to watch full match replays and highlights for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This hub will keep you completely up to speed on every single matchday as the tournament progresses.

Match Report

Argentina defeated Austria 2–0 at a packed Dallas Stadium to book their place in the 2026 World Cup knockout stages, courtesy of a historic performance by Lionel Messi. The match opened with massive drama when an early VAR check awarded Argentina a penalty in the 8th minute, only for Messi to send his spot-kick completely wide. He fully redeemed himself in the 38th minute, pouncing on a loose clearance from Austrian keeper Alexander Schlager to slot home his 17th career World Cup goal, officially surpassing Miroslav Klose to become the all-time leading tournament scorer.

Austria fought back fiercely in the second half, implementing a grueling high-press that forced a world-class flying save from Emiliano Martínez to deny a Marcel Sabitzer free-kick. Despite losing center-back Cristian Romero to an injury, Argentina’s defensive block withstood the aerial assault and late tactical substitutions from Ralf Rangnick's side. Deep into stoppage time, Argentina capitalized on a clinical counter-attack as Julian Alvarez's saved shot fell right back to Messi, who hammered home his second goal of the match to finish off a 2–0 victory and bring his historic tournament goal tally to 18.

How to watch Argentina vs Austria with a VPN

If you are travelling abroad or just want to access your usual streaming services from a different part of the world, you may run into geo-restrictions. This is where a Virtual Private Network (VPN) comes in handy.

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What time does Argentina vs Austria kick off?

World Cup - Grp. J

Dallas Stadium

Argentina vs Austria will be broadcast live in the United States on FOX and Telemundo, with English and Spanish-language coverage available. Both channels are available via Fubo, who offer new customers a free 5 day trial of their service. A comprehensive list of the TV channels and live stream for Argentina vs Austria can be found below.Watch Argentina vs Austria LIVE: Free online streams, TV channel, confirmed teams news, Messi chases World Cup record

READ MORE: Today's FW2026 TV schedule

Argentina vs Austria Live Streams

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	Telemundo	Click here
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	Fox One	Click here

🎤 Who are the FOX commentators for the match?

The FOX commentary duo calling the match today is Darren Fletcher (play-by-play) and Owen Hargreaves (match analyst).

Argentina vs Austria lineups

4-4-2

Argentina

ARG

Formation

Austria

AUT

4-2-3-1

23E. Martinez25F. Medina13C. Romero26N. Molina6L. Martinez16T. Almada7R. De Paul24E. Fernandez20A. Mac Allister22L. Martinez10L. Messi1A. Schlager3K. Danso20K. Laimer5S. Posch8D. Alaba9M. Sabitzer18R. Schmid4X. Schlager24P. Wanner6N. Seiwald11M. Gregoritsch

Austria

AUT

4-4-2

ARGAUT

Starting XI

• 23

  E. Martinez

  7.6
  1

  A. Schlager

  6.0
• 25

  F. Medina

  N. Tagliafico 82'

  7.3
  3

  K. Danso

  6.0
• 13

  C. Romero

  N. Otamendi 57'

  7.3
  20

  K. Laimer

  5.6
• 26

  N. Molina

  7.5
  5

  S. Posch

  A. Prass 67'

  5.8
• 6

  L. Martinez

  7.8
  8

  CD. Alaba

  M. Friedl 67'

  6.5
• 16

  T. Almada

  N. Gonzalez 64'

  7.2
  9

  M. Sabitzer

  6.3
• 7

  R. De Paul

  L. Paredes 82'

  6.9
  18

  R. Schmid

  P. Wimmer 78'

  6.3
• 24

  E. Fernandez

  7.3
  4

  X. Schlager

  6.0
• 20

  A. Mac Allister

  7.1
  24

  P. Wanner

  M. Arnautovic 67'

  6.4
• 22

  L. Martinez

  J. Alvarez 64'

  7.0
  6

  N. Seiwald

  6.5
• 10

  CL. Messi

  2

  8.3
  11

  M. Gregoritsch

  C. Chukwuemeka 85'

  6.7

Substitutes

• 19

  N. Otamendi

  C. Romero 57'

  6.3
  15

  P. Lienhart
• 1

  J. Musso
  2

  D. Affengruber
• 12

  G. Rulli
  10

  F. Grillitsch
• 9

  J. Alvarez

  L. Martinez 64'

  6.3
  26

  A. Schoepf
• 4

  G. Montiel
  19

  D. Ljubicic
• 14

  E. Palacios
  23

  M. Friedl

  D. Alaba 67'

  5.8
• 8

  V. Barco
  17

  C. Chukwuemeka

  M. Gregoritsch 85'

  5.8
• 5

  L. Paredes

  R. De Paul 82'

  6.0
  14

  S. Kalajdzic
• 15

  N. Gonzalez

  T. Almada 64'

  6.5
  12

  F. Wiegele
• 21

  J. Lopez
  25

  M. Svoboda
• 2

  M. Senesi
  7

  M. Arnautovic

  P. Wanner 67'

  5.7
• 3

  N. Tagliafico

  F. Medina 82'

  6.4
  22

  A. Prass

  S. Posch 67'

  5.8
• 17

  G. Simeone
  16

  P. Mwene
• 11

  G. Lo Celso
  13

  P. Pentz
• 18

  N. Paz
  21

  P. Wimmer

  R. Schmid 78'

  5.8

Manager

• L. Scaloni

• R. Rangnick

What's the starting XI for both teams?

Both teams are entering this crucial Group J World Cup clash on a massive high following decisive Matchday 1 victories. For Argentina, all eyes are on Lionel Messi, who looks to break Miroslav Klose's all-time men's World Cup goal record after netting an electric hat trick in their 3-0 opening win over Algeria. Manager Lionel Scaloni has made one forced change today, deploying Nahuel Molina at right-back for the injured Gonzalo Montiel, while switching to a balanced 4-4-2 formation to pair Lautaro Martínez up top with Messi.

Austria is riding a wave of confidence after defeating Jordan 3-1, marking their first World Cup win since 1990 in their historic return to the tournament. Manager Ralf Rangnick has shaken up his lineup by introducing Kevin Danso, Paul Wanner, and Michael Gregoritsch to lead their signature high-press. Veteran striker Marko Arnautović remains an impact sub on the bench, leaving Gregoritsch to spearhead the attack as Austria fights the reigning champions for first place in the group.

First Half Highlights:

The match has only just kicked off (currently about 10 minutes into the first half), but we have already had absolute maximum drama:

• Early VAR & Penalty Drama (3rd–7th Minute): Argentina attacked aggressively right from kickoff. Lautaro Martínez burst into the penalty box and was heavily brought down by a sliding challenge from Kevin Danso and Stefan Posch. After a lengthy six-minute VAR review, the referee confirmed the foul and pointed to the penalty spot.
• Messi’s Shocking Miss (8th Minute): Lionel Messi stepped up to take the penalty with massive history on the line—a goal would have made him the sole all-time leading goalscorer in men's World Cup history. In a stunning turn of events that quieted the entire stadium, he dragged his spot-kick completely wide of the target.
• Austrian Pressure: Following the missed penalty, Austria completely settled into the game. Utilizing their signature "gegenpressing" style, they disrupted Argentina's midfield rhythm, dominated a large stretch of possession, and forced several consecutive corners, though they struggled to test Emiliano Martínez with a shot on goal.
• The Breakthrough & History Made (38th Minute): Lionel Messi completely redeemed himself just before the break. Following a fast break, Facundo Medina delivered a dangerous ball that picked out Lionel Messi in the center of the box. Messi fired a left-footed strike into the bottom left corner to make it 1–0. The goal officially marks his 17th career World Cup goal, breaking Miroslav Klose's record to make him the all-time top scorer in men's World Cup history.
• Tempers Flare (40th Minute): The physical nature of the half boiled over shortly after the goal, resulting in Austria's Stefan Posch picking up a yellow card for a hard challenge.

Second Half Highlights:

• Sabitzer's Free-Kick Threat (56th Minute): Austria earned a dangerous free-kick right at the edge of the penalty area. Marcel Sabitzer struck a beautiful, curling effort toward the far top corner, forcing an excellent diving save out of Argentina's Emiliano Martínez to keep the clean sheet intact.
• Argentine Injury Blow (56th Minute): Center-back Cristian Romero began struggling with a knee issue he picked up shortly after the restart and was unable to continue. Manager Lionel Scaloni brought the veteran Nicolás Otamendi off the bench to shore up the defense.
• A Flurry of Tactical Changes (63rd–67th Minute): Both managers shook things up past the hour mark. Argentina introduced Julián Alvarez and Nicolás González to add fresh legs to the press. Austria countered with a triple substitution, introducing Marco Friedl, Alexander Prass, and veteran striker Marko Arnautović to spearhead a desperate push for an equalizer.
• Physicality Boils Over (75th Minute): The match turned incredibly scrappy as Austria pushed numbers forward. A heated sequence resulted in a double yellow card, with Argentina's Facundo Medina and Austria's Konrad Laimer both going into the referee's book.
• Late Argentine Sub & Safe Hands (81st–87th Minute): Scaloni used his final windows to locked down the midfield, bringing on Leandro Paredes and Nicolás Tagliafico. Austria has repeatedly tried to lob balls into the box toward Arnautović, but Argentina's defense is holding firm to secure Messi's historic night.
• Messi Seals It with History (90+4' Minute): With Austria completely committed forward in search of a stoppage-time equalizer, Argentina caught them on a lethal counter-attack. Lionel Messi received the ball inside the area and coolly slotted home his second goal of the day to make it 2–0.

What FIFA World Cup records can Messi break against Austria?

When Lionel Messi leads Argentina onto the pitch against Austria at the Dallas Stadium, he will be on the cusp of rewriting football history. Following his spectacular hat-trick against Algeria in Argentina's Group J opener, the 38-year-old maestro stands to break or tie four major tournament milestones.

Can I watch Argentina vs Austria for free?

Yes, you can! Argentina versus Austria will be broadcast live on FOX and Telemundo. You can pick up both channels with an OTA (over-the-air) antenna. This method does incur a one-off payment, but some OTA antennas can be picked up for as little as $25 and stop you from being tied into a long-term subscription.

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Outside of this, many online streaming services also carry both channels. Two such services, Fubo and DirecTV Stream, offer free access through a 5-day trial so you can try before you buy.

Peacock, NBC's own online streaming platform, will also carry Telemundo's Spanish-language coverage of this, as well as all other FIFA World Cup soccer games.

Can I watch Argentina vs Austria with Spanish commentary?

Short answer: yes! Argentina vs Austria will be broadcast live with Spanish commentary on Telemundo in the USA.

Ways to watch Telemundo

There are several different ways to access Telemundo - the cheapest of which is through an OTA (over-the-air) antenna. While this method does incur an up front fee, you can pick one up for as cheap as $25.

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A quicker method of accessing Telemundo is through an online streaming service. Several online streaming services carry the Telemundo channel including NBC's own platform Peacock. Others to include it as part of their channel offering are Fubo and DirecTV Stream, both of which offer new customers a 5 day free trial.

For a comprehensive look at all of the best methods, check out our comprehensive guide on how to watch and live stream Telemundo.

☀️ What's the weather like for the match?

Outside Dallas Stadium today, the weather is shaping up to be a brutal mix of North Texas summer heat and passing storms, with outdoor temperatures climbing between 93°F and 97°F and a stifling heat index hitting around 104°F to 105°F alongside active thunderstorm warnings.

Fortunately, fans and players won't have to face any of these elements during the match as the stadium's retractable roof will remain firmly closed, providing a fully climate-controlled environment that keeps the indoor temperature at a comfortable 72°F (22°C).

Group J Standings

Because both teams won their opening games, the winner of this match is guaranteed a top-two finish and automatically qualifies for the Round of 32. A draw keeps both in the driver's seat heading into Matchday 3.

The Group J Winner will travel to Miami to play the Runner-up of Group H.

Right now, Group H's second spot is a dead heat between Uruguay and Cabo Verde (both on 2 points with an identical goal difference). However, mathematically, a late slip-up by Spain or a surge by Saudi Arabia could shuffle this deck.

The Group J Runner-up will travel to Los Angeles to face the Winner of Group H.

Spain is the heavy favorite to fill this slot. They sit at the top of Group H with 4 points and a dominant +4 goal difference. Avoiding a second-place finish in Group J is a massive priority for Argentina and Austria if they want to delay facing La Roja.

Argentina vs Austria Match Preview

Argentina and Austria meet at Dallas Stadium in Arlington in Group J of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with both sides arriving off winning starts to the tournament.

Lionel Scaloni's side opened their title defense with a commanding 3-0 victory over Algeria, a match that generated controversy after the Algerian Football Federation lodged a formal complaint with FIFA over refereeing decisions, arguing that Messi and Alexis Mac Allister should have been dismissed. Argentina brushed aside the noise, and Messi's hat-trick in that opener drew widespread acclaim — including from Brazilian legend Ronaldo, who declared the debate over and named the Inter Miami forward the greatest of all time.

Off the pitch, the family of Argentina's captain confirmed that his father, Jorge Messi, is dealing with a health issue requiring medical supervision, with the family criticising what they described as irresponsible media speculation during the tournament.

Austria, under Ralf Rangnick, also started with three points, beating Jordan 3-1 in their opener. Rangnick's side have been one of the more watchable teams in European football in recent years, and they arrive in Texas with confidence and momentum.

A win for Argentina would seal their place in the knockout rounds. Austria know a result here would put them in a strong position heading into their final group game against Algeria.

For everything you need to know about where to watch Argentina vs Austria, including the TV channel, live stream options, and kick-off time, read on below.

Early Team News

Argentina right-back Gonzalo Montiel was withdrawn at halftime during Argentina's 3-0 opening win over Algeria. While the knock is reported as minor, manager Lionel Scaloni is highly unlikely to risk him for this fixture.

Following a sluggish performance from Lautaro Martínez in the opener, Nicolás González is heavily pushing for a starting spot after making a strong impact and providing an assist off the bench.

Lionel Messi enters the match coming off a magnificent hat trick against Algeria, which tied him with Miroslav Klose as the joint all-time top scorer in World Cup history (16 goals).

Austria faces a major blow in defense as regular fullback Stefan Posch is completely ruled out of the match due to a broken jaw. Rather than utilizing a traditional center-back in a wide role to cover for Posch, manager Ralf Rangnick is prepared to drop midfielder Konrad Laimer into a deeper defensive/wingback role to neutralize Argentina's wide threats.

Form

Argentina arrive in the form of their lives, winning all five of their last five matches. Scaloni's side have scored 15 goals across that run and conceded just one, a 2-1 friendly win over Mauritania in March being the only game in which they let in a goal. Their most recent outing was the 3-0 World Cup opener against Algeria on June 17, and they also recorded back-to-back 3-0 wins over Iceland and a 5-0 thrashing of Zambia in the lead-up to the tournament.

Austria have also won four of their last five, with only a 1-1 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina in World Cup qualifying last November interrupting an otherwise strong run. Rangnick's team beat Jordan 3-1 in their World Cup opener on June 17, and their most eye-catching recent result was a 5-1 demolition of Ghana in a March friendly. Across those five games, Austria scored 11 goals and conceded three.

Head-to-Head Record

Argentina and Austria have a very sparse history, having faced each other only twice at the senior international level. Both previous encounters were international friendlies played on Austrian soil over three decades ago.

Step-by-step VPN guide to watch Argentina vs Austria today

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1. Download & Install: Sign up to ExpressVPN or another reputable VPN service (check out GOAL's guide here) and download the app on your device.
2. Connect to a Server: Open the app and select a server location where the match is being shown (e.g. if you are in the UK but want to watch a US stream, connect to a US server).
3. Clear Cache: Sometimes your browser holds onto your old location. Clear your cookies or refresh your browser to ensure the change takes effect.
4. Start Streaming: Go to your broadcaster's website and app and enjoy the game.

Can I watch on the big screen?

Watching on your phone or laptop is fine, but live sports belongs on the big screen. Here is how to get the VPN working on your TV:

• Smart TVs & Fire Stick: Most Android-based TVs and devices like the Amazon Fire TV Stick or Google Chromecast with Google TV have native VPN apps. Simply search for your VPN provider in the app store on your TV, log in, and connect just like you would on your phone.
• Apple TV, Roku & Consoles: These devices often don't support direct VPN apps. The easiest workaround is to use Smart DNS (usually found in your VPN account settings) or Mirror/Cast the stream from your VPN-connected phone or laptop to your TV.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the absolute cheapest way to watch FIFA World Cup soccer?

To watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the US without an expensive cable package, viewers can utilize a combination of free and budget-friendly streaming options.

For completely free viewing, fans can use an Over-the-Air (OTA) digital antenna to catch major matches on FOX and Telemundo, while strategically stacking 5-day free trials from services like Fubo and DirecTV Stream to cover cable-exclusive games on FS1.

For low-cost paid alternatives, Spanish-language broadcasts of all 104 matches are available through Peacock (starting at $7.99 per month) or Fubo Latino ($9.99 for the first month). Fans preferring English commentary can opt for Fox's standalone direct-to-consumer app, Fox One, for $19.99 a month, or take advantage of Sling TV's discounted first-month promotions (starting at $25) to access FS1 and local FOX channels.

For a more comprehensive answer, check out GOAL's guide to the cheapest ways to watch World Cup soccer.