Argentinians dream of the 2026 World Cup with hope and no urgency

Nine in the morning in Buenos Aires. Traffic moves slowly on Avenida Rivadavia. As he navigates around buses and cyclists, Leonardo, a taxi driver for 28 years, summarizes the mood: "You know how it is, luckily we're calmer than four years ago." Unlike the lead-up to Qatar 2022, when anxiety about winning a third World Cup dominated conversations, a sense of confidence now prevails. The victories in the 2021 and 2022 Copa América, the 2022 Finalissima, and especially the World Cup triumph in Lusail have transformed Argentinians' relationship with their national team.

"As long as Lio (Messi) is in good shape and the forwards score, we can compete with anyone," Leonardo says, tapping the steering wheel. At 52, he has witnessed Argentina win the World Cup three times, though he recalls the first victory dimly. "At my father's house, we had a TV with no sound, so we listened to the games on the radio. I remember the final against Holland, but I was very young and didn't pay much attention.

"This confidence isn't exclusive to those who saw the 1978, 1986, and 2022 titles. A few kilometers away, in a small cafe in the Almagro neighborhood, the conversation is similar. Agustina, 27, arranges butter croissants behind the counter. She says she experiences this World Cup differently from the last. "In Qatar, it felt like we *had* to win; it was supposedly Messi's last chance, and he couldn't retire without winning the World Cup."

Agustina still considers Argentina a favorite but avoids triumphalism, acknowledging other strong teams. "Argentina is always a favorite, like Brazil. You can never count them out. I really like Spain too, and France is always there, though I hope they get eliminated soon," she says, serving a customer. Across different ages and professions, a common sentiment emerges: Argentina arrives at the 2026 World Cup without the emotional burden of Qatar. The hope remains, but the urgency has faded.

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Mientras lo tengamos a Lio (Messi) en buena forma y los de arriba metan la pelotita, estamos para competirle a cualquiera.