Lionel Messi is back in Miami for the World Cup Round of 32 as Argentina faces Cape Verde with a ticket to the Round of 16 on the line.
The Inter Miami and La Albiceleste captain has six goals over three games, including his first career World Cup hat trick, as Argentina went undefeated in the group stage to finish first in Group J. It’s been a history-making tournament for Messi, who is playing in his sixth career World Cup. This year, he broke the all-time World Cup goals record and became the first player to score in seven consecutive World Cup matches.
Cape Verde became one of the 2026 World Cup’s Cinderella stories as it became the smallest country to ever reach the knockouts. The Tubarões Azuis opened the tournament against heavy favorite Spain, but held them to a shocking 0-0 draw. All three of Cape Verde’s group stage matches ended in draws: 2-2 against Uruguay and 0-0 against Saudi Arabia. It was enough to qualify them as one of the top eight third-place finishers.
Argentina vs. Cape Verde: what to know
- What: FIFA World Cup 2026, Round of 32
- When: July 3, 6 p.m. ET
- Where: Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens, Florida)
- Channel: FOX (English), Telemundo (Spanish)
- Streaming: DIRECTV (try it free)
The winner of today’s match advances to the Round of 16, where they’ll face either Australia or Egypt on July 7.
Here’s everything you need to know about Argentina-Cape Verde at the 2026 World Cup.
Argentina vs. Cape Verde time
Today’s (July 3) Argentina vs. Cape Verde Round of 32 match at the 2026 World Cup is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. ET.
How to watch Argentina vs. Cape Verde for free
If you don’t have cable or an antenna, you’ll need a live TV streaming service to stream the World Cup for free.
DIRECTV is our favorite service for watching sports live for free. Right now, you can take advantage of a five-day free trial before saving $30 on your first month. We recommend the Choice plan, which includes FOX, FS1 and Telemundo as part of its 125+ channels.
More coverage on the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Argentina World Cup roster
Goalkeepers:
- Juan Musso
- Gerónimo Rulli
- Emiliano Martínez
Defenders:
- Nicolás Tagliafico
- Gonzalo Montiel
- Lisandro Martínez
- Cristian Romero
- Nicolás Otamendi
- Facundo Medina
- Nahuel Molina
Midfielders:
- Lenandro Parades
- Rodrigo De Paul
- Valentín Barco
- Giovani Lo Celso
- Exequiel Palacios
- Thiago Almada
- Alexis Mac Allister
- Enzo Fernández
Forwards:
- Julián Álvarez
- Lionel Messi (captain)
- Nico González
- Giuliano Simeone
- Nico Paz
- José Manuel López
- Lautaro Martínez
Cape Verde World Cup roster
Goalkeepers:
- Vozinha
- Márcio Rosa
- CJ dos Santos
Defenders:
- Stopira
- Diney Borges
- Pico Lopes
- Logan Costa
- Sidny Lopes Cabral
- Steven Moreira
- Wagner Pina
- Kelvin Pires
Midfielders:
- Kevin Pina
- João Paulo
- Jamiro Montiero
- Deroy Duarte
- Laros Duarte
- Yannik Semedo
- Telmo Arcanjo
Forwards:
- Jovane Cabral
- Gilson Benchimol
- Garry Rodrigues
- Willy Semedo
- Dailon Livramento
- Ryan Mendes
- Nuno da Costa
- Hélio Varela
Why Trust Post Wanted by the New York Post
This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Streaming Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping, Page Six, and Decider.com. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on every streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. When she’s not writing about (or watching) TV, movies, and sports, she’s also keeping up on the underrated perfume dupes at Bath & Body Works and testing headphones. Prior to joining Decider and The New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews.
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