Argentina will face Cape Verde in their first knockout match of the World Cup 2026 in Miami on Friday. The reigning champions are looking to advance after a strong group stage performance, while Lionel Messi aims to maintain his place as joint-top scorer alongside France’s Kylian Mbappé.
This clash comes shortly after Cape Verde surprised many by securing a 0-0 draw with Spain, finishing their group stage unbeaten with five points. As reported by 101 Great Goals, the winner of this match will meet either Australia or Egypt in the last 16 on Tuesday.
Argentina’s Starting XI Against Cape Verde
Lionel Messi returns to the lineup in one of nine changes made by Argentina from their previous 3-1 victory over Jordan. Key players Emiliano Martínez and Lautaro Martínez have been retained as Argentina shifts focus to the knockout stage.
Argentina starting XI: Emiliano Martínez, Lisandro Martínez, Cristian Romero, Facundo Medina, Nahuel Molina, Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernández, Lionel Messi, Thiago Almada, Lautaro Martínez.
Argentina substitutes: Juan Musso, Geronimo Rulli, Marcos Senesi, Nicolas Tagliafico, Gonzalo Montiel, Nicolas Otamendi, Leandro Paredes, Valentin Barco, Giovani Lo Celso, Exequiel Palacios, Nico Gonzalez, Julian Alvarez, Giuliano Simeone, Nico Paz, Jose Manuel Lopez.
Cape Verde’s Line-Up Ahead of Argentina Match
Cape Verde has made several changes to their squad for this afternoon’s knockout match. Among the new faces are Sidny Lopes Cabral and Steven Moreira, who are expected to strengthen the team after their solid performance against Saudi Arabia.
Cape Verde starting XI: Vozinha, Diney Borges, Pico Lopes, Sidny Lopes Cabral, Steven Moreira, Kevin Pina, Jovane Cabral, Deroy Duarte, Laros Duarte, Nuno Da Costa, Ryan Mendes.
Cape Verde substitutes: Marcio Rosa, Cj Dos Santos, Stopira, Logan Costa, Wagner Pina, Kelvin Pires, Joao Paulo, Jamiro Monteiro, Garry Rodrigues, Yannick Semedo, Willy Semedo, Telmo Arcanjo, Helio Varela, Gilson Benchimol, Dailon Livramento.
Where to Watch the Match Between Argentina and Cape Verde
The match is scheduled to kick off at 23:00 BST (18:00 ET / 15:00 PT) on Friday. In the UK, fans can catch the live action on ITV1, with streaming available through ITV’s website and the ITVX app on various devices.
The SportiveNews view
As reigning champions, Argentina will be eager to assert their dominance against Cape Verde, who have already defied expectations. With Messi leading the line, Argentina has the potential to advance further in the tournament and will aim to build momentum heading into the knockout stages.
Source: Based on reporting from 101 Great Goals. SportiveNews rewrote and analysed the story independently for football readers.
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