Argentina and Jordan soccer fans fill the main concourse before a World Cup Group J soccer match between Jordan and Argentina on Saturday, June 27, 2026, in Arlington.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
The 2026 World Cup’s group stage is coming to a close.
For the second time in this tournament, Argentina will take the field at Dallas Stadium. The squad will take on Jordan in Group J play at 9 p.m. While many fans will hope to catch a glimpse of superstar Lionel Messi, they may have to wait until the match’s second half.
Jordanian supporters turn the grounds outside Dallas Stadium in Arlington into a sea of red, black, white and green, waving flags and building energy ahead of kickoff.
Michael Cuviello/Dallas Morning News
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni told reporters Friday that Messi would be on the bench to start, but he may sub in at some point in the second half.
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Will Argentina close out the group stage with nine points? Could Jordan come away with a surprising result?
Follow along below as we provide live updates, match coverage, photos and more from Dallas Stadium:
Four-year-old Cash Ricas of Dallas waited to watch his favorite player, Messi.
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Wearing Argentina’s sky-blue-and-white jersey with the No. 10 on the front, Ricas said he was enjoying his World Cup experience and eagerly nodded when asked if he liked Messi.
The young fan also sported a temporary tattoo of Messi’s face and the No. 10 on his forearm, proudly showing it off as fans streamed toward the stadium ahead of kickoff.
Four-year-old Cash Ricas of Dallas shows off Lionel Messi tattoo (temporary) outside Dallas Stadium prior to Argentina’s World Cup match against Jordan on June 27, 2026, in Arlington.
Maria Salette Ontiveros/The Dallas Morning News
– Maria Salette Ontiveros
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Outside Gate 2, Jordan supporters carved out their own celebration amid a sea of Argentina jerseys, singing and dancing to the sounds of drums and a saxophone ahead of kickoff.
For Walid Ghawram, a Jordan fan from Boston, the trip to Dallas was about much more than the match.
After spending an estimated $5,000 to $6,000 to follow his country’s first World Cup appearance, Ghawram said the experience was a chance to reunite with fellow Jordanians and see Lionel Messi in person for the first time.
“I haven’t been in Jordan in a while,” he said. “Now, I feel like Jordan came to me.”
Jordan supporters gather with instruments outside Dallas Stadium before Jordan’s World Cup match against Argentina on June 27, 2026, in Arlington.
The Dallas Morning News
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Fans from Argentina arrived very early to watch the Jordan vs Argentina game.
Outside the stadium, they created a festive atmosphere five hours before the game with drums, chants, and cheers for their team.
Mario Romero and his wife, Estefaní Trenti, traveled from the province of Santiago del Estero in Argentina. For them, coming to the World Cup is not only a dream, but also a promise they made to Romero’s father before he passed away.
“We’ve all always been huge soccer fans, and I went with my dad to two World Cups—in Russia and Brazil—and when he got sick with cancer, he made me promise that I’d come with my son to every World Cup,” said Romero, who doesn’t have children yet but wants to carry on the family tradition.
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Lupe and Marissa Castillo, along with Kurt Tucker, who is a Navy veteran, also came to support Argentina, having traveled from Corpus Christi to attend the game.
“My daughter was a soccer player and played in several countries, so this is a dream come true for us,” said Lupe Castillo, who was holding a sign cheering on Messi: “Let’s get loud!!”
And from Jordan came Nur Mustafa, a businessman who traveled with a group of people to support his team.
“This is the first time my country has made it to a World Cup, and it’s something I didn’t want to miss,” said Mustafa. “And if we beat Argentina today, it would be a huge deal.”
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Nur Mustafa traveled from Jordan to North Texas to support his team in the World Cup. He’s pictured here outside Dallas Stadium prior to Jordan’s World Cup match vs. Argentina on June 27, 2026, in Arlington.
The Dallas Morning News
Argentina supporters Kurt Tucker (left) Lupe Castillo (center) and Marissa Castillo of Corpus Christi are pictured outside Dallas Stadium prior to Argentina’s World Cup match vs. Jordan on June 27, 2026, in Arlington.
The Dallas Morning News
Fans from Jordan and Argentina filled the area outside the stadium hours before kickoff, with a line stretching nearly two blocks outside Gate 2. The crowd of fans gradually shrank as the start of the match approached.
Among them was 40-year-old Jacov Ayoub of Jordan, who said he has supported Argentina since childhood while also cheering for his home country.
“It’s something weird,” Ayoub said. “But I encourage our country to win.”
Ayoub arrived in the United States just two weeks ago and said the trip has exceeded his expectations.
“I like it so much,” he said. “The country is nice. The hospitality and atmosphere are very good.”
Aida Ayyash, 53, of Jordan, and her friend, Cassie Diotalevi, 60, said they were excited to experience their first World Cup match together. The pair previously lived in Abu Dhabi and has spent years traveling, including across the U.S. in an RV.
“Argentina will win,” Ayyash said, though she added that the experience itself was what mattered most. “We are very happy. We like Argentina anyway.”
– Maria Salette Ontiveros
We’re about three and a half hours away from kickoff at Dallas Stadium. Keep up with us as fans and the players make their way into Dallas Stadium.
Where: Dallas Stadium in Arlington
TV/streaming: FOX Sports, Telemundo; streaming live on Peacock
The Argentine squad is looking to stay perfect in group stage play. The team already has wins over Algeria and Austria, securing its spot in the knockout stage as leader of Group J. Argentina has already found success at Dallas Stadium, picking up a 2-0 win over Austria at the venue on Monday.
Lionel Messi is the tournament’s leading scorer with five goals. He’s also the tournament’s all-time leading scorer, with 18 World Cup goals on his record going into Saturday.
Jordan is still looking for a positive result in its first World Cup appearance. The squad lost its first two matches in the tournament, falling against Austria and Algeria.
If Jordan wants to make an impact, it’ll have to strike quickly as Argentina will be without Messi to start Saturday’s encounter. The superstar could come into the match in the second half.
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