Argentina and Portugal could potentially meet in the knockout stages of the 2026 World Cup, with a very slim chance of a final showdown at MetLife Stadium in Miami.
Argentina were drawn in a group with Algeria, Austria, and Haiti, while Portugal were placed in a group with Uzbekistan, Colombia, and the winner of the intercontinental play-off.
The 2026 World Cup will be the final appearance for both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, and a match between them would undoubtedly garner unprecedented public attention.
Given the draw and the two teams’ positions, there’s a good chance they could meet in the quarterfinals if they both top their groups and then advance through the Round of 32 and the Round of 16.
However, if neither team tops their group, a meeting could only occur in the final.
Portugal and Argentina are expected to top their respective groups with relative ease, given the disparity in quality between the two sides. This means Messi and Ronaldo could potentially meet for the first time in a World Cup quarter-final.
Ronaldo has repeatedly confirmed his participation in the 2026 World Cup, while Messi has left the door open to the possibility of watching the tournament from the stands.
Messi is expected to make a final decision regarding his participation in the 2026 World Cup at the start of the MLS season in March, after assessing his physical readiness and ability to contribute to Lionel Scaloni’s squad.
