2026 FIFA World Cup Full group & knockout stages breakdown

Don’t be surprised if at least one traditional power exits before the quarter-finals. Like Messi, Ronaldo will appear at a record-breaking sixth edition of the World Cup, but of his eight goals in 22 games at the tournament, three have been penalties and none have come in the knockout stages. Building momentum heading into a tournament is huge, and the vast majority of nations will play friendly matches with their strongest teams in close proximity to the tournament to build a rapport between the players. These World Cup 2026 predictions combine the final group standings and results with our own group-by-group analysis, updated after every matchday. The picks weigh how each team actually performed, the strength of their group, and the bracket path ahead of them. This page is refreshed after each knockout round, so the picks always reflect the latest results.

All 48 Teams

Mere weeks into Jesse Marsch’s reign, Canada reached the semi-finals on their Copa América debut, losing 2-0 to eventual winners Argentina. Only a penalty shootout denied them a bronze medal, as they lost to Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay in the third-place play-off. But by the time next year’s tournament rolls around, it will have been 12 years since Germany played a knockout game at a World Cup.

Despite sitting a little below the top four nations, these sides are also contenders.
Brazil have been improving with every match, defeating Scotland and Haiti before sharing the spoils with Morocco.
The supercomputer is a bit kinder to Uzbekistan (0.1%) and Jordan (0.1%), but both teams will still be doing well to get out of their groups.
The Opta supercomputer gave the reigning world champions a 77.9 percent chance of victory across 25,000 pre-match simulations.
Debutants Cape Verde finished second in Group H ahead of two-time champions Uruguay, who went home.
Despite an underwhelming qualifying campaign, Carlo Ancelotti’s charges remain hot favourites to advance as group winners, with the Atlas Lions expected to settle for a runner-up finish.
Furthermore, it can simply lead to a drop in motivation levels, especially if they face a team needing to win to earn a place in the World Cup Finals.
There are 12 different groups of four teams in the 2026 World Cup.
Along with the Gold Cup run, a 5-1 win over Uruguay last time out put Pochettino’s critics on notice, and the USA should feel good about their chances of being competitive in the knockout stages.

England vs DR Congo Picks, Tips, Odds & Best Bets: 2026 World Cup Round of 32

Goals Market – Over 3 Goals @ 6/5The totals line sits at 3, with over available at 6/5 and under at 4/5. Argentina scored at least three goals in each of their three group games, and Cape Verde’s forward line managed only two goals across theirs. The most likely route to over 3 is Argentina scoring freely rather than a high-scoring exchange, and Scaloni’s side have the firepower to deliver that in a knockout tie against a side with limited attacking threat. Main Pick – Argentina to Win @ 1/6Argentina have won all five of their recent matches and scored nine goals in three World Cup group fixtures. Cape Verde’s resilient defensive record is notable but was built against opposition that did not carry the same individual quality Argentina bring.

World Cup 2026: Winners predicted as holders Argentina defend title in USA, Canada, Mexico tournament

Congo DR and Uzbekistan are unlikely to factor heavily, making this a high‑stakes, two‑team race.
In the United States, all 104 matches are in English on Fox (70) and FS1 (34), and all are streamed on Fox One.
Despite sitting a point behind Ghana in Group L, Croatia are clear favourites to claim victory, according to the Opta supercomputer.
Germany are given a 54.7 percent chance of winning inside 90 minutes, while Paraguay’s chances stand at 23.1 percent.
Austria are narrowly favoured to win, with a 31.2 percent chance of taking all three points, while Algeria are rated at 26.7 percent.
Jamiro Monteiro and Garry Rodrigues add craft in midfield, and manager Aguas is expected to name a similar side to the one that earned three draws through the group phase.
Of course, they were famously crowned world champions in South Africa – but that 2010 success also represents the only time they have reached the semi-finals from their last 14 participations.
Their identity has been built on structure and defensive organisation, with 1.1 goals…
Fresh off a dominant qualifying cycle, England enter the tournament as one of the top six betting favourites to take home the most prestigious international title.

Portugal go into the World Cup with momentum after winning the Nations League under Roberto Martínez. Portugal are fifth favourites to triumph, as Cristiano Ronaldo seeks the one honour still missing from his trophy cabinet. A rampant Kane scored an astonishing 61 club goals across all competitions (64 if you also include the Club World Cup) and finished the season in fine style with two consecutive hat-tricks. Harry Kane shouldn’t be short of service and Tuchel will be buoyed by the fact his captain is coming off a sensational campaign with Bayern Munich that saw him win the European Golden Shoe award. France are seen as having the most difficult group of the leading teams, as they face Norway, Senegal and Iraq in Group I.

What is the prediction for Germany vs Paraguay?

Neymar is no longer the first name on the team sheet but whatever squad the now 34-year-old is part of will still be lifted by his presence. The trend continues a shift away from the traditional black-and-white football boot, following the colourful designs that first gained popularity at the 1998 World Cup. The comments came against the backdrop of heightened tensions between Iran and the US following recent military attacks and a fragile ceasefire. Taremi urged FIFA to resolve the issues, saying the governing body had failed to provide the support promised before the tournament.

The Host Nation Factor

Jamiro Monteiro and Garry Rodrigues add craft in midfield, and manager Aguas is expected to name a similar side to the one that earned three draws through the group phase. After working in the sports betting industry for several years, Green became a professional sports writer and handicapper and has covered the game worldwide. Last year, Green was profitable in multiple areas on his soccer betting picks, including the Champions League (+211.25) and Bundesliga (+100). He’s also been red-hot in 2026, posting an 18-8 record over his last 26 UCL picks, returning nearly $1,000 in profit. Anyone wanting to follow his World Cup betting advice at sportsbooks and on betting apps could see big returns. For the co-hosts, Canada sits lowest in the rankings at 0.47%, with Mexico up at 1.81%.

World Cup 2026: USMNT locks up spot in knockout rounds with 2-0 win over Australia

France cruised through the group stage with a 100% record, recording comfortable wins over Senegal, Iraq, and Norway. Spain and Austria go head-to-head in the World Cup last 32 with La Roja looking to move one step closer towards their second trophy at the showpiece tournament. As Spain faced no difficulties in the group stages, we predict a routine 2-0 home win. La Roja cruised through the group stage without conceding a single goal, underlining their status as genuine title contenders.

Group E: Germany Clear Favorite as Ivory Coast and Ecuador Battle for Second

Simulating, playing Prono, and following live results are all free.
During World Cup qualification, you may notice that certain teams have already qualified for the main tournament which may mean that they use some squad players or experiment with their lineup.
For full predictions on points, goals and assists, check out our 2026 World Cup Team Projections.
Mexico’s consistency makes them a reliable choice, as well as playing at home, while South Korea’s speed can be dangerous on the counterattack.
He could become only the third manager to win both the UEFA Champions League and the World Cup, after Marcello Lippi (Juventus, Italy) and Del Bosque (Real Madrid, Spain).
This can impact a team’s chances heavily, especially if it is a top goalscorer or stalwart defender that is essential to the way the nation plays.
Official FIFA schedule will confirm exact kick-off times for each match.
Our World Cup 2026 betting guide has all of the latest information on the match.
Ancelotti is armed with attacking talent, having opted to select record goalscorer Neymar in addition to stars like Vinícius Júnior, Raphinha and Matheus Cunha.
Jesse Marsch’s co-hosts missed out on top spot in Group B after defeat to Switzerland and must decamp to L.A.
The USMNT leads the way once again at 2.45%, but there are 10 teams seen as more likely winners.
The Brazilians are priced at -300 to advance to the next round, with the Japanese at +235.
Ghana were victorious in 17.6 percent of simulations, while the draw was rated at 26.2 percent.

48 teams compete at the 2026 World Cup — expanded from 32 at Qatar 2022. They are split into 12 groups of four, with 32 teams advancing to the knockout rounds. See here for an overview of which teams got luckiest and unluckiest based on where they slotted into the bracket. Choose group outcomes, pick the knockout winners and discover who triumphs. These four all reached the knockouts and have the profile to go further. Below are the 16 actual fixtures with our pick for each, followed by our forecast through to the final.

Brazil vs. Mexico

The only one other team assigned more than a one-in-10 chance of becoming world champions is England, who are out to end 60 years of hurt at major tournaments. Ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 draw on Friday 5 December, the Opta supercomputer has produced its early predictions for this summer’s tournament in North America. He previously worked as fan brands editor for Manchester City at Reach Plc. Prior to that, he built more than a decade of experience in the sports journalism industry, primarily for the Stats Perform and Press Association news agencies. Cricket and boxing are his other major sporting passions and he has covered the likes of Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, Wladimir Klitschko, Gennadiy Golovkin and Vasyl Lomachenko live from ringside.

But they won that match by a statement 6-0 scoreline, with Nick Woltemade, Serge Gnabry and Leroy Sané among the goals.
Norway will be the team nobody wishes to draw from Pot 3, having steamrolled their way through the UEFA qualifiers with a perfect eight wins and 37 goals – the most of any team.
Spain and Austria go head-to-head in the World Cup last 32 with La Roja looking to move one step closer towards their second trophy at the showpiece tournament.
As Argentina look unstoppable at the moment, our prediction firmly points toward a 2-0 home win.
And the 38-year-old has continued to post stunning MLS numbers for Inter Miami over recent seasons as he prepares to lead his nation.
His England reign took some time to get going, as England laboured past Albania (3-0), Latvia (2-0), Andorra (1-0 and 2-0) and were beaten 3-1 by Senegal in a June friendly.
Portugal are slight favourites according to the Opta supercomputer, winning 51.6 percent of its 25,000 pre-match simulations.
Two teams who might not have expected to finish top of their groups.
While 47 countries won the tournament at least once in our sims overall, for the teams rated 25-48, a successful tournament would realistically constitute emerging from their groups.
Few nations in football history have possessed such an embarrassment of attacking riches.
Despite being co‑hosts, Canada remain difficult to trust due to inconsistency in group play, and a lack of high-end talent to get them past better teams.
They are given a 47.8% chance of topping Group A, which also contains South Korea and Czechia.
And of course, there are also six teams still to be decided in March’s play-offs.
France vs Spain – Only a handful of teams can stop Les Bleus from becoming the first team in World Cup history to reach three consecutive finals.
Colombia will become just the third South American team Portugal have faced at the World Cup, following previous meetings with Brazil and Uruguay.
Brazil showed their resilience once again by coming from behind to beat Japan 2-1 in the last 32.
France’s flawless group stage made them the favorite, Argentina drew the kinder half of the bracket, Norway are the dark horse, and Messi leads the Golden Boot race as the competition’s all-time top scorer.

Our Predictions vs Expert Picks

Christian Pulisic and Folarin Balogun have had moments at the club level, but that’s never been extended to the national team. Argentina, meanwhile, remain built for high-pressure knockout matches and possess an edge in composure and quality. Spain’s track record in major international competitions gives them the clear edge in this scenario. They’ve consistently found ways to advance deep into tournaments, and that experience matters. England’s talent makes them a serious contender, but I’m backing Croatia to finish first based on their recent World Cup success under Luka Modric.

Mexico vs. England

At this price the match result offers no value in isolation, so the play is to combine it with a goals line. Elo ratings + XGBoost trained on 50,000+ international matches. The 2026 World Cup will be the broadest, most competitive, and most logistically complex tournament ever staged. Picking a winner is harder than it has ever been, and that’s precisely what makes the build-up so compelling. Whatever your predictions, the only certainty is that we’ll all be surprised by something. Spain is backed to make light work of Austria, as is England in its meeting with DR Congo.

World Cup Teams: All 48, Knockout Tracker & FIFA Ranking

Here are Paul Carr’s power rankings of all 48 teams in the 2026 World Cup, separated into five distinct tiers. The 2026 World Cup is the first men’s World Cup in the United States since the 1994 tournament, and it’ll be unlike any World Cup ever played. We have mapped out the full World Cup picture, from the group-stage battles through to the knockout phase, outlining how the tournament could unfold from start to finish. As for Paraguay, Diego Gomez will miss the match through suspension, having picked up a second yellow card of the tournament against Australia last time out. The White and Reds picked up four points from their three Group D matches to finish third, only behind second-placed Australia on goal difference.

Tuesday, June 16

There is something quite romantic about one of the godfathers of management being appointed by the most famous footballing country to bring home the greatest prize in football for a record-extending sixth time.
Croatia rank just above co-hosts USA and place 15th overall in terms of potential winners with a 1.6% chance.
But if France make the quarter-finals (they did so in 47.9% of sims), they then start to fare increasingly better in our projections.
Top 5 (Argentina, Spain, France, England, Brazil) most likely to reach this stage.
Whatever your predictions, the only certainty is that we’ll all be surprised by something.
They have topped their first-round pool in every World Cup since 1982 and have a 60.4% chance of winning Group C.
The model adjusts its odds after each game, playing out the rest of the tournament 100,000 times while giving teams credit (or blame) for their performance so far.
With William Pacho and Moises Caicedo forming the spine of the team, they have the foundations required to frustrate even the elite nations.
Now that there are 12 groups instead of eight, it’s hard to find a Group of Death with four exceptionally strong teams.
The latest 2026 World Cup betting odds from FanDuel Sportsbook list Mexico as -182 favorites to advance to the Round of 16, while Ecuador are +148 underdogs.
We are calling a France vs Argentina final, with France lifting the trophy 2-1 on July 19.

For the first time, 48 nations will compete to lift the World Cup trophy in an expanded tournament, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada across 16 stadiums. Portugal enter the tournament as legitimate title contenders for good reason. Their roster is stacked with talent from back to front, and the possibility of Ronaldo’s final World Cup only sharpens the focus. Bosnia’s effort and organization should not be overlooked, but overcoming a Portuguese side featuring players like Rafael Leao, Vitinha and Bruno Fernandes would require something exceptional.

With the Round of 32 underway and this 48-team field wide open, we will update these picks after every round. Our World Cup 2026 predictions land on France beating Argentina 2-1 in the July 19 final at New York New Jersey Stadium, a rematch of 2022. France and Argentina are the most likely finalists, sitting on opposite halves of the bracket.

World Cup: Knockout stage predictions

Pochettino has had no choice but to experiment – in November, Giovani Reyna’s return to the squad saw him become the 51st player to start a game for the USMNT in 2025. Pochettino’s side did reach the final of the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup, despite star names including Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Folarin Balogun and Antonee Robinson missing the tournament. The USMNT appointed Pochettino after of a humiliating group-stage exit as Copa América hosts last year, and things did not immediately improve as the Argentine lost five of his first 10 matches at the helm. France became the sixth team to win the World Cup as hosts in 1998, but no side has accomplished the feat since then. One recurring issue in recent years has been their lack of a true centre-forward.

With the World Soccer Ticket, fans get access to top leagues, live TV, and streaming — all in one place — so you never miss the action. This promises to be one of the most evenly matched ties of the Round of 32. Ivory Coast has the physicality and midfield quality to frustrate Norway, but the Scandinavian side’s clinical finishing and attacking firepower could ultimately prove decisive. There are no major injury concerns for either side, with both managers expected to field their strongest available lineups.

Women’s Super League

We asked the supercomputer to simulate the 2026 World Cup 25,000 times, and it has produced some fascinating conclusions in its official pre-tournament predictions. The Sporting News is tracking the favourites to win and best betting offers including 50/1 for a goal to be scored in England vs. Congo and 40/1 for Harry Kane to have a shot in the match. This final comes down to France’s athleticism, depth and physical dominance against Portugal’s control of possession and tempo.

ELO Football Ratings (35% weight)

Expect a thrilling atmosphere when Canada and Morocco face each other in the World Cup last 16, with both teams dreaming of a place in the quarter-finals. As Morocco have been producing excellent displays at the showpiece tournament, we predict a 1-0 away win. Canada reached the last 16 thanks to a hard-fought 1-0 win over South Africa, with Stephen Eustaquio scoring the dec… The favoured teams, however, are France and Spain, with England deemed to have a strong chance as well. France will pursue a third straight final and third title overall, while past winners Spain enter as European champions.

World Cup Format Explained (48 Teams, Knockout Path)

France head the betting to win the 2026 World Cup on Sunday July 19. The Three Lions’ Round of 32 match is 5pm on Wednesday before Belgium vs. Senegal, with the winner of that one setting up a meeting with USA should the Stars and Stripes beat Bosnia. It will be Mexico next in the Azteca if England beat DR Congo, while France are shorter than 2/1 to win the tournament with many UK bookmakers after crushing Sweden. This matchup delivers a final showdown between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Panama are playing only for pride after suffering narrow defeats to both Ghana and Croatia. Los Canaleros can count themselves unfortunate not to have collected at lea… Top position in Group K will be at stake when Colombia and Portugal lock horns in what promises to be a fascinating World Cup showdown. As los Cafeteros are likely to adopt a defence-minded approach in the final group game, we predict a 1-1 draw. Colombia are brimming with confidence after recording back-to-back victories over Uzbekistan and DR Congo.

France vs Spain – Only a handful of teams can stop Les Bleus from becoming the first team in World Cup history to reach three consecutive finals. Fresh off a dominant qualifying cycle, England enter the tournament as one of the top six betting favourites to take home the most prestigious international title. Debutants Uzbekistan are seen as having a slightly better chance of impressing than the other new nations, as they have a 0.2% chance of going all the way. A more realistic aim might be getting through the groups after impressing in AFC qualification – beating out sides like Qatar and United Arab Emirates.

In terms of winning the tournament, USA’s chances are more remote but still respectable at 1.2%. That puts them close to Switzerland, two-time winners Uruguay and Ecuador in our overall projections. After winning the Saudi Pro League with Al-Nassr, Ronaldo is eyeing the chance to bounce back from what was, by his extremely high standards, a poor major tournament at Euro 2024, an event he ended without a goal. England finished with eight wins – and eight clean sheets – from as many matches in qualifying, becoming only the second team ever to win all their games in a UEFA campaign without conceding, after Yugoslavia in 1954. They made it to the UEFA Nations League final – where it took a penalty shootout for Portugal to beat them – and eased through qualification, topping Türkiye to go unbeaten across six games.

Emerse Faé’s side has impressed with its energy, athleticism and attacking balance, and now has the chance to script another memorable chapter.
These insights, combined with current team form, player fitness, and pre-tournament momentum, form the basis of our data-driven soccer betting tips and forecasts.
A battle for second place ought to be far more exciting, with Iran likely to put Egypt’s credentials to the test after a decent group-stage campaign in Qatar.
With more nations, an added knockout round, and third-place teams advancing, predicting the full tournament path is more complex, and more intriguing, than ever.
Goalkeeper Vozinha, a veteran of 86 caps, has been the experienced anchor behind the defensive shape that earned their group stage draws.
England vs Portugal – Ronaldo may have to take comfort from beating his arch-nemesis in the quarter-finals.
It is 24 years since Brazil last prevailed and only once before have they endured a drought of that length since first winning in 1958, which was between 1970 and 1994.
Fresh match predictions, betting tips, and analysis updated every day throughout the tournament.
With so much on the line in each and every game with players playing for pride and their nation, it means there are various different betting angles to target.
Uzbekistan came out on top in 26.8 percent of simulations, while the draw was rated at 24.3 percent, leaving the Central Asian side with an outside chance of reaching the Round of 32.
The teams that can solve different tactical puzzles, manage their energy levels and thrive in hostile conditions usually find themselves going deepest into the competition.
All three teams have a chance greater than 5% of winning the tournament, and of at least 10% to reach the final.

Get FREE daily news and in-depth previews for games from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football — straight to your inbox. Morocco have never won the World Cup, but they did reach the semi-finals of the 2022 tournament, which represented their best-ever run in the competition. Of the teams in the bottom quarter of our projections, there are a few standout nations who the system thinks could spring a surprise. Just one shock exit from a tournament favourite can cause other dominos to fall and the draw can suddenly open up for an unexpected team to challenge.

With Alexis Mac Allister fifa world cup 2026 groups and Enzo Fernandez capable of picking passes from deep, the spaces behind Cape Verde’s defensive line are likely to be tested repeatedly and at pace from the first whistle. Argentina head into this tie with a fully fit and settled squad. Emiliano Martinez is the undisputed first-choice goalkeeper, with the back four expected to feature Nahuel Molina and Nicolas Tagliafico as full-backs alongside Lisandro Martinez and Cristian Romero in central defence. The midfield trio of Alexis Mac Allister, Rodrigo De Paul and Enzo Fernandez has functioned well throughout the group stage, and Scaloni has few, if any, selection headaches at this stage of the tournament.

Preview: Netherlands vs Morocco – prediction, team news, lineups 2026 World Cup

The Opta supercomputer makes Germany the clear favourites to progress. Brazil have dominated this fixture over the years, winning 11 of their 14 previous meetings with Japan and losing only once. If you’re looking for a simple way to watch the World Cup in English on Fox and in Spanish on Telemundo, Xfinity makes it easy to follow the World Cup and stay connected to global soccer year‑round.

Simulating, playing Prono, and following live results are all free. Create a free account only when you want to save your bracket or join the prediction league. The 2026 FIFA World Cup features 48 teams — the largest in tournament history.

All 12 groups, outright winner analysis, Golden Boot picks, dark horse teams, and daily tips throughout the 38-day tournament from 11 June to 19 July 2026. All eyes will be on Estadio BBVA when the Netherlands and Morocco face each other in a highly-anticipated World Cup showdown. As the two teams seem to be evenly matched ahead of this round 32 clash, our prediction leans toward a 1-1 draw. The Netherlands produced a series of convincing displays in Group F, defeating both Sweden and Tunisia while sharing the spoils with Japan… MetLife Stadium will be the centre of attention when France and Sweden lock horns in an exciting last-32 encounter. As Les Bleus have looked like one of the strongest teams in the tournament so far, our prediction leans toward a 4-2 home win.

The striker is already the record goalscorer for England and has remained a pivotal figure for Tuchel, under whom the early returns have been strong. France have reached the final in four of the last seven editions – twice as often as any other nation during that period – and it would be a surprise if they were not there or thereabouts once again. Deschamps also lifted the trophy as a player when he was captain in 1998, and this World Cup will be the first for Mbappé as France skipper. Within that sextet, three teams are seen as the biggest challengers to Spain and three others, while very much in the mix, might need a little more good fortune to go their way if they are to emerge triumphant. As the tournament draws ever closer, getting stuck into the Opta supercomputer’s projections is the perfect way to whet your appetite while brushing up on some stimulating statistics.

Having reached the latter stages repeatedly, this feels like an opportunity France cannot let slip, and their overall quality should see them through.
After watching his team fall agonisingly short on penalties against Argentina in Qatar, he has another chance to become only the second coach to win multiple World Cups (after Vittorio Pozzo in 1934 and 1938).
That flexibility feels particularly important in a World Cup likely to be played in extreme temperatures.
Canada finished second behind Switzerland and chase a first men’s World Cup knockout win against South Africa in the opening tie.
The Netherlands have the kind of balanced squad that often outperforms its pre-tournament odds.
Two of the most talented squads, if not the top two, meet in the tournament semi-final.
Spain is backed to make light work of Austria, as is England in its meeting with DR Congo.
Vinicius Junior has battled inconsistency, while Raphinha’s form has been disrupted by injuries.
This is the sort of information to consider if you are thinking of betting on the World Cup, and we have included it in our World Cup betting guide.
That places significant responsibility on Joao Pedro, who has impressed at Chelsea, but it remains uncertain whether that will be enough, or even if he’s locked into the XI.
The draw is priced at 15/2, reflecting just how unlikely a stalemate is given the gap in class between these two sides.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the first edition to feature 48 nations and the first hosted by three countries — the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
They have only endured one previous drought of that length since first winning the tournament in 1958, between 1970 and 1994.

Argentina enter as defending champion, but without Angel Di Maria, one of the anchors of their last run, they lack the same spark. Portugal’s depth and momentum give them the edge, and I see them pulling off the upset to reach their first World Cup final. Brazil have struggled to define a clear identity in recent tournaments, raising doubts about their ability to make a legitimate World Cup run.

But Memphis Depay remains a talisman for his nation, becoming their all-time leading scorer when he netted his 51st international goal in September. The Oranje’s run to the semi-finals of Euro 2024 – losing late on to England – was their best at any tournament since finishing third at the 2014 World Cup. Vinícius has played under five different head coaches since joining Real Madrid, and 149 of his 192 goal involvements for the club came during Ancelotti’s second spell in charge of Los Blancos. Next year, it will have been 24 years since Brazil last lifted the World Cup. They have only endured one previous drought of that length since first winning the tournament in 1958, between 1970 and 1994. A lack of recent match practice against top-class European opponents could count against the Albiceleste, who also saw Ángel Di María retire from international football after the Copa América.