Saturday, June 13, 2026 · 12 PM ET / 5 PM UK / 11 AM CT / 9 AM PT · SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
The 2022 World Cup semifinal rematch — at noon Eastern, in front of 70,000+ in Los Angeles. Argentina beat Croatia 3-0 in Qatar's semifinal to reach the eventual title. Lionel Messi scored. Julián Álvarez scored twice. Eight years later, Messi at 38 returns to the matchup that defined his road to the trophy. Modrić at 40 returns to settle a generational score.
Three reasons this is a marquee opener:
1. The 2022 score is unsettled. Croatia entered the 2022 semifinal as significant underdogs and got blown out 3-0. Modrić has been quoted multiple times saying the scoreline didn't reflect the match. The rematch carries that subtext.
2. Messi's last World Cup matchday-1 vs European top-6 opposition. Messi at 38, in his final tournament, vs the team that almost ended his 2022 run. The narrative writes itself. Scaloni will start him; the question is whether he plays 90 or gets pulled at 70 for minute management.
3. Group C ranks. Argentina (12% title odds) is the clear group favorite. Croatia (2% title odds) is the most-tactically-experienced team in Group C. A win or draw here defines the second-place fight — Croatia probably advances regardless, but their bracket position depends on points here.
Manager: Lionel Scaloni · 4-4-2 (the system that beat Croatia in 2022)
Style: Messi as second striker beside Lautaro Martínez; deep block when defending; vertical transition
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Dibu Martínez (GK)
Molina Romero Otamendi Tagliafico
Mac Allister De Paul Enzo Lo Celso
Messi Lautaro
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Key call: Lo Celso starts ahead of Garnacho on the left. Scaloni prefers the experience for matchday 1.
Manager: Zlatko Dalić · 4-3-3
Style: Midfield-dominant possession; Modrić sets tempo; press in selected waves
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Livaković (GK)
Stanišić Šutalo Gvardiol Sosa
Kovačić Modrić Brozović
Pašalić Petković Perišić
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Tactical note: Same midfield trio Croatia has used since 2018. Three consecutive deep tournament runs say it works against any opponent.
Most-likely scoreline: Argentina 1-1 (11.2%) or Argentina 2-1 (10.4%). A 3-0 repeat is just 2.8% probable.
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*Related: Argentina full preview · Croatia full preview · Messi profile · Modrić profile · Final power rankings*
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is hosted across 16 cities in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, running from June 11 to July 19, 2026 — the first 48-team World Cup.