The outlined path sends Argentina into Match 86 in the round of 32 against the runners-up from Group H. A victory would lead to a last-16 tie against the winner of Match 88, involving the runners-up from Groups D and G.
Portugal’s route would begin in Match 83, where the Group K runners-up would face the second-placed team from Group L. The winner would then meet the winner of Match 84, a contest involving the Group H winners and the Group J runners-up.
Those paths remain in the same half of the draw. If both sides win twice, the quarter-final meeting would be set.
The scenario makes finishing position critical rather than merely symbolic. Argentina must top Group J, while Portugal must settle for second in Group K. Any change could send either team into a different section of the bracket.
The expanded 48-team tournament creates more knockout routes, but the fixed structure also gives the group phase a sharper strategic edge. Teams will be weighing the value of topping a group against the opponents and path attached to each position.
A knockout meeting would carry obvious historical weight. Messi and Ronaldo have defined an era of international football, and a World Cup quarter-final would provide the most dramatic possible stage for their late-career rivalry.
The next storyline to watch is the final shape of Groups J and K. Until Argentina claim first place and Portugal secure second, the celebrated quarter-final remains a possibility-not a confirmed fixture.