No Messi: World Cup schedule shows Argentina won’t play its matches in California
Argentina and Lionel Messi, the defending champions and one of the biggest draws in the World Cup next summer as it comes to North America, won’t be appearing at Northern California’s Levi’s Stadium during the tournament’s group stage.
The 68,500-seat stadium in Santa Clara is slated to host two matches from Group J, which Argentina is headlining following Friday’s draw. But Argentina will instead play two matches in Dallas and one in Kansas City.
The World Cup is taking on a new, 48-country format for next summer’s tournament, which means more matches and more tickets sold. Levi’s Stadium will host six matches: five in the group stages for Groups B, J and D, along with one match in the Round of 32 in the first knockout stage, which could feature the United States if they win their group.
The draw on Friday placed Argentina, the No. 2 team in FIFA’s world rankings, with Algeria, Austria and Jordan, making the defending champs from the 2022 World Cup the heavy favorite to win the group despite potentially fielding one of the older rosters in the field.
As for Levi’s Stadium, Austria will play against Jordan at 9 p.m. Pacific Time on June 15, and Jordan will face Algeria at 8 p.m. Pacific on June 22.
Saturday’s full schedule unveiling revealed Argentina will face Algeria on June 16 in Kansas City, Austria on June 22 in Dallas and Jordan on June 27 also in Dallas.
Messi, who turns 39 during the World Cup, has not yet been confirmed as a member of the team. He recently told ESPN he hopes his body will allow him to participate. Messi has appeared in five World Cups, including 2022 in Qatar, and has made a record 26 appearance. He’s the only player to have an assist in five World Cups, and he’s the only player to score a goal in his teens, 20s and 30s.
The World Cup is coming to North America for the first time since the United States hosted it in 1994. This year, the 104-game tournament will span venues across the U.S., Mexico and Canada. Matches will be held in 11 NFL stadiums in the United States, three stadiums in Mexico and two in Canada.
The Americans are considered favorites in Group D among Paraguay, Australia and a yet-to-be-determined European qualifier between Turkey, Romania, Slovakia and Kosovo. The European qualifier will face Paraguay at 9 p.m. Pacific Time on June 18, and Paraguay will face Australia at 7 p.m. Pacific Time on June 25, each at Levi’s Stadium.
Group B includes co-host Canada along with Qatar, Switzerland and an as-yet-undetermined European qualifier coming from the pool of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Wales, Italy and Northern Ireland. Qatar faces Switzerland on June 13 at Levi’s Stadium in the group stage, at noon Pacific Time.
The new 48-team format came with notable changes. First, the draw prevented the top four teams in FIFA’s rankings — Spain, Argentina, France and England — from matching up in group stages. The earliest they can play is the semifinals, when the tournament is down to semifinals when only four teams remain alive.
Additionally, the first knockout round is the Round of 32, which means the top two teams from each group advance past the group stages and the eight best third-place teams move on, based on points, goal differential, goals scored, discipline (card points) and FIFA ranking.
Levi’s Stadium match schedule
All times Pacific.
Group stage
June 13: Group B, Qatar vs. Switzerland, noon
June 15: Group J, Austria vs. Jordan, 9 p.m.
June 18: Group D, Paraguay vs. playoff qualifier (Turkey, Romania, Slovakia or Kosovo), 9 p.m.
June 22: Group J, Jordan vs. Algeria, 8 p.m.
June 25: Group D, Australia vs. Paraguay, 7 p.m.
Round of 32
July 1: Group D winner vs. Group B/E/F/I/J third place, 5 p.m.
This story was originally published December 6, 2025 at 9:41 AM.
