Video: Argentina's goals vs. Iceland
Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Argentina defeated Iceland 1-0 in their final friendly match before the 2026 World Cup.
- Valentín Barco scored the lone goal in the first half with a left-footed shot.
- Iceland had a clear chance to score earlier but missed the target.
Argentina secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Iceland in their last friendly match before the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
The match, held at Jordan-Hare Stadium, saw Argentina take the lead just before the 10-minute mark. Valentín Barco opened the scoring with a precise left-footed strike from the edge of the penalty area. The goal originated from a free-kick by Giovani Lo Celso, which led to a series of deflections before Barco capitalized on a rebound.
Iceland had a significant opportunity to take the lead earlier in the first half. Mikael Ellertsson, arriving behind the Argentine defense from a cross, missed the target with his shot. Although he appeared to be offside, the referee allowed play to continue, resulting in Argentina taking possession from the goal kick.
Towards the end of the first half, Isak Johannesson tested Argentine goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli with a powerful long-range shot. Rulli, starting in place of the injured Emiliano "Dibu" Martínez, made a crucial save, controlling the ball without a rebound.
Argentina, the reigning champions from the 2022 World Cup, will compete in Group J alongside Algeria, Austria, and Jordan. Iceland did not qualify for this World Cup.
Originally published by La Nación in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.