1. Can Argentina and Portugal meet in the group stage?

No, they are in separate groups, so the earliest possible meeting is the round of 32 on 3 July.

2. How many of Messi and Ronaldo's 36 meetings came at international level?

Just two, both friendlies, which is why any World Cup tie would be their first competitive international meeting.

3. When will we know if the Kansas City quarter-final is actually Argentina against Portugal?

Only once the round of 16 finishes on 7 July, four days before the match itself.

4. Do knockout tickets stay valid if different teams reach that fixture?

Yes, knockout tickets are sold for the fixture itself and remain valid whichever nations qualify for it.

5. What time does the potential Kansas City quarter-final kick off?

Match 100 kicks off at 9pm Eastern time on Saturday 11 July, which is 2am on Sunday morning for UK viewers.

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Messi vs Ronaldo at World Cup 2026: Every Way Argentina and Portugal Can Meet

They've never met at a World Cup. Argentina in Group J, Portugal in Group K. From a round of 16 in Dallas to a New Jersey final, every route mapped.

EAEapen AlexanderUpdated 10 June 2026/13 min read

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Messi vs Ronaldo at World Cup 2026: Every Way Argentina and Portugal Can Meet

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Written by

Eapen Alexander

I am a football writer, content chief and marketing executive at 1BoxOffice, covering the major European, South American leagues, and International Football with total objectivity on everything bar the case for Messi.

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Messi vs Ronaldo at World Cup 2026: Every Way They Can Meet

Messi vs Ronaldo at World Cup 2026: Every Way Argentina and Portugal Can Meet

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