Argentina coach Scaloni says winning the 2026 World Cup will be difficult.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni has admitted that defending the FIFA World Cup will be a major challenge, as La Albiceleste are set to start their title defence against Algeria on June 17.

Just over three and a half years ago, Argentina won its third world title after defeating France in a penalty shoot‑out in Qatar.

Since the 2022 World Cup triumph, Scaloni’s squad has lost only four matches in international friendlies, the 2024 Copa América and the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

They have also won all five of their most recent games, most recently a 3‑0 victory over Iceland. Their flawless record in the lead‑up matches to the 2026 World Cup has moved them to the top of the latest FIFA rankings.

After the friendly against Iceland, Scaloni said that winning a consecutive World Cup title is a formidable task, but he assured that his players will give maximum effort on the field in North America.

He added, “It is quite challenging to claim that we will win the World Cup again, as it is very difficult; however, I can assure you that these players will give their all on the pitch. We will strive until the very end.”

In addition to Algeria, Argentina is drawn in Group J with Austria and Jordan. The three‑time world champions hope to become the first team to win back‑to‑back titles since Brazil in 1962.

Opta’s latest forecast lists Argentina as the fourth favourite, with a 10.5 % chance of winning the tournament.