Defending World Cup champion Argentina begins its knockout round campaign Friday evening at Hard Rock Stadium, where Lionel Messi and company will take on Cape Verde.
Argentina has looked every bit like a team capable of defending its title, opening the tournament with a 3-0 victory over Algeria before following it up with a 2-0 win against Austria to clinch first place in Group J. Lionel Scaloni rested several regular starters in the group finale against Jordan, but Messi still made his mark after coming off the bench, scoring on a late free kick to cap a 3-1 victory and complete a perfect group stage campaign.
Cape Verde has authored one of the tournament’s best stories thus far. The World Cup debutants stunned Spain with a scoreless draw in their opener behind a brilliant performance from veteran goalkeeper Vozinha before battling Uruguay to a 2-2 draw. Another clean sheet against Saudi Arabia in the group finale secured the point needed to send the Blue Sharks into the knockout rounds.
Argentina is chasing consecutive World Cup titles, while Cape Verde hopes to keep one of the tournament’s most unlikely Cinderella stories alive in what will be the first-ever meeting between the two nations.
Argentina vs. Cape Verde Current Odds
Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook has Argentina listed as a massive favorite on the 3-way moneyline entering Friday night’s Round of 32 matchup.
- 🇦🇷 Argentina (-650)
- âś‹ Draw (+750)
- 🇨🇻 Cape Verde (+2000)
Cape Verde vs. Argentina: Odds to Advance
Bettors who simply want to pick the team that will survive can turn to the To Advance market. This market includes regulation, extra time and penalty kicks, opposed to the 3-way moneyline that only includes the first 90 minutes and any additional stoppage time.
- 🇦🇷 Argentina to Advance (-2500)
- 🇨🇻 Cape Verde to Advance (+1000)
Argentina vs. Cape Verde Prediction
Hard Rock Bet’s Stats Hub provides countless betting trends for every game during the 2026 World Cup, and one involving Lionel Messi stands out heading into Friday’s showdown.
Lionel Messi First Goalscorer (+175)
Lionel Messi has scored the first goal in four of Argentina’s last five World Cup matches, continuing a remarkable run as the focal point of the defending champions’ attack.
Cape Verde deserves plenty of credit for its defensive performances throughout the group stage, particularly Vozinha’s standout display against Spain. But facing Argentina presents an entirely different challenge. The reigning champions have scored eight goals in three matches and consistently created quality chances against every opponent they’ve faced.
If Argentina starts on the front foot as expected, Messi once again looks like the most likely player to open the scoring. Given his recent World Cup form and role within Scaloni’s attack, the First Goalscorer market at +175 offers plenty of appeal.
World Cup Futures for Argentina and Cape Verde
Friday’s winner will travel to Atlanta for a Round of 16 matchup against the winner of Australia vs. Egypt on July 7.
A victory there would send either Argentina or Cape Verde to Kansas City for the quarterfinals on July 11, where Switzerland, Algeria, Colombia or Ghana would be up next.
For those looking ahead, Argentina enters the knockout rounds with the second-shortest odds to win the World Cup at Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook, trailing only tournament favorite France. Cape Verde, on the other hand, remains the biggest longshot left in the tournament:
- Argentina to win the World Cup: +425
- Cape Verde to win the World Cup: +100000
Argentina vs. Cape Verde Match Info
- đź“Ť Location: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
- đź“… Date: Friday, July 3
- ⏰ Start Time: 6:00 PM ET
- đź“ş Where to Watch: FOX, Tele, FOX One
- 🏆 Stage: World Cup Round of 32
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