Giuliano Simeone fulfills prediction, debuts at World Cup with Argentina

Three years ago, Giuliano Simeone typed a message into his family group chat that would age extraordinarily well. “I’ll be at the World Cup. Mark my words.” In late June 2026, he made good on that promise, starting at right-back for Argentina in their World Cup match against Jordan.

The path from prediction to pitch

Simeone’s journey to the World Cup wasn’t a straight line. A serious injury in 2023, the same year he made his audacious prediction, could have derailed the entire timeline.

His senior international debut came on November 19, 2024, when Argentina faced Peru in a World Cup qualifying match. By March 25, 2025, he was scoring his first international goal, finding the net in a 4-1 victory over Brazil. On May 27, 2026, he was officially named to Argentina’s 26-man squad for the World Cup.

Then came the Jordan match. Simeone started at right-back, a position that demands tactical discipline, defensive awareness, and the kind of relentless running that runs in his family.

A name that carries weight

His father has managed Atlético Madrid since 2011. The elder Simeone’s playing career included stints with Inter Milan, Lazio, and the Argentine national team itself.

Argentina’s title defense and what Simeone adds

Argentina entered the 2026 World Cup as defending champions following their triumph in Qatar in 2022. The Jordan match gave coach Lionel Scaloni the chance to evaluate Simeone in a live World Cup environment without the pressure of facing a traditional powerhouse in a knockout round.

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