Argentina vs Honduras: prediction & betting odds 7 June 2026

Betting Tip

Honduras come into this match with a new head coach, Jose Francisco Molina. Under the Spaniard, the team have played only against Peru. In that game, he used the common 4-2-3-1 formation, but how will his players now stop the attacking trio of the world champions, even if Leo Messi does not appear on the pitch?

For Argentina's coaching staff, this match in Texas is a crucial stage of tactical experiments before the start of the official tournament. Lionel Scaloni is already actively testing different player combinations, and according to reports from the Latin American camp, a line-up without Messi and Julian Alvarez from the first minutes has been worked on in training. That makes sense: nobody is going to overload the main stars in an exhibition game against aggressive opponents. Nicolas Gonzalez and young talent Nico Paz will get a chance to show themselves, and it is vitally important for them to prove their worth to the coach. Giuliano Simeone could also start instead of one of them. At the same time, the pattern of play will remain unchanged: total control of the ball and active use of the flanks.

Honduras will arrive wounded by their failure to qualify for the main tournament of the four-year cycle, and for them the meeting with the world champions is the biggest match of the year, a showcase and an opportunity to make a statement. The team will traditionally sit in a low block, relying on physical power in the penalty area and counterattacks through the quick Luis Palma. Kervin Arriaga will also put pressure on the nominal hosts' defence. Before Argentina's victorious World Cup, these national teams met on the pitch, and Argentina won 3:0, with two goals scored after glaring positional mistakes by Honduras' centre-backs.

It is obvious that the quality of Argentina's players is incomparable with their opponents, but the friendly status of the match and Messi's potential absence from the starting line-up will reduce the favourite's attacking potential. We should not expect an easy ride or a repeat of the Zambia thrashing here. Argentina's experimental midfield combination may struggle against tight marking, while Honduras will throw themselves in front of the ball. We believe the nominal visitors will hold a perfectly respectable positive handicap, as Scaloni will prefer to protect his players' legs and minimise the risk of injuries before the World Cup.