Argentina selects Enzo Fernandez, Mac Allister, Rodrigo de Paul for midfield tonight

Argentina is going with what works. For their 2026 FIFA World Cup opener against Algeria tonight, head coach Lionel Scaloni has selected Enzo Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister, and Rodrigo de Paul as the starting midfield trio. It’s the same core that ran the show in Qatar four years ago.

The Argentine Football Association confirmed the selection on June 13, making official what most observers expected.

The band is back together

Enzo Fernandez, currently at Chelsea, operates as the deep-lying playmaker who dictates tempo.

Mac Allister, plying his trade at Liverpool, brings a different skillset. He’s the box-to-box presence who connects defense to attack, capable of pressing high and arriving late into dangerous positions.

Rodrigo de Paul covers more ground than either of his midfield partners and brings an intensity that sets the tone for Argentina’s pressing game.

What’s different this time around

The 2026 World Cup is a fundamentally different tournament than the one Argentina won in Qatar. The expanded format features 48 teams, a significant jump from the 32-team setup of previous editions. More games, more opponents, more squad depth required.

That expansion matters for midfield management specifically. Argentina can’t simply run Fernandez, Mac Allister, and de Paul into the ground across what could be seven or eight matches if they reach the final. Reports suggest Thiago Almada is expected to play a meaningful role in the attacking setup as well, providing another option when legs get heavy.

The tournament is spread across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, which introduces travel and climate variables that Qatar’s compact, air-conditioned stadiums didn’t.

Argentina learned the cost of slow starts the hard way in 2022, losing their opener to Saudi Arabia before rallying to win the whole thing. Scaloni’s decision to start his strongest midfield from the very first whistle suggests he’s not interested in a repeat of that slow start.

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