Argentina’s Starting Team for the 2026 World Cup Final: Easy Explainer

What Happened Before the Final?

Imagine your coach is like a secret keeper . Scaloni (Argentina’s coach) is always tricky and hidden about who he will put on the field. But now the official starting eleven (that means the 11 players who begin the match) for the big final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey is confirmed. Compared to the semifinal where Argentina came back and beat England, there are three changes.

The Three Changes in the Team

Here are the three swaps in the Argentina team:

• Montiel replaces Nahuel Molina (both play on the right side of defense, called right back).
• De Paul replaces Giuliano Simeone (De Paul plays on the right side of the midfield/attack).
• Nico González replaces Leandro Paredes (Nico plays on the left side).

The "spine" (the most important core players) stays the same. And of course, Leo Messi is still the captain and the number 10 (the playmaker) for the Albiceleste (that’s Argentina’s nickname).

Important Point: Messi leads the team as captain and number 10, and the core of the team is unchanged!

Why These Changes?

Let’s look at why these three players are coming in:

1. Giuliano Simeone started against England to give the team more speed and quick runs on the side. But now De Paul returns. He was starting in every World Cup game before, and he played well when he came off the bench (from the substitutes) last Wednesday in Atlanta.
2. Nahuel Molina started every match except the easy win over Jordania. But Montiel came in super well during the comeback against England, so now he starts. Fun fact: Montiel used to play for Sevilla, and he scored the winning penalty in Qatar 2022!
3. On the left side, Nico González (a player who runs deep and pushes forward a lot) comes in for Leandro Paredes. Now Enzo Fernández is the "5" (the organizing midfielder who directs the game).

The Full Starting Lineup

Here is Argentina’s lineup for the 2026 World Cup Final against Spain:

• Goalkeeper: ‘Dibu’ Martínez
• Defenders: Montiel, ‘Cuti’ Romero, Lisandro Martínez, Tagliafico
• Midfielders/Forwards: De Paul, Mac Allister, Enzo Fernández, Nico González
• Strikers: Julián Álvarez and Leo Messi

Summary

To sum it up: Argentina’s coach Scaloni kept his secrets until the end, but the final team has three new starters compared to the England semifinal—Montiel, De Paul, and Nico González. The main structure stays, Messi is still captain, and the full team is ready to face Spain in the 2026 World Cup Final in New Jersey.

FAQ

Q1: Why did Scaloni change three players for the final?
A: He wanted to bring back regular starters like De Paul and use players who did well as subs, like Montiel, while keeping the team’s strong core.

Q2: Is Messi playing in the final?
A: Yes! He is the captain and the number 10, just like always.

Q3: What is the Albiceleste?
A: It’s the nickname for the Argentina national football team, meaning "white and sky blue" from their colors.

Q4: Who does Argentina play in this final?
A: They play against Spain in the 2026 World Cup Final.