This is a record of Argentina's results at the FIFA World Cup. Argentina is one of the most successful teams in the tournament's history, having won three World Cups. Argentina won its first title as a host country in 1978, defeating the Netherlands 3–1 in the final. In 1986, Argentina won their second World Cup title after defeating West Germany 3–2 in the final. In 2022, Argentina won their third World Cup, after winning a penalty shoot-out against France following a 3–3 draw in the final. Argentina has also been runner-up four times, in 1930, 1990, 2014, and 2026.
In nineteen World Cup tournaments, Argentina has 54 victories in 96 matches. The team has been present in all but four of the World Cups, ranking behind only Brazil and Germany in total number of appearances.
FIFA World Cup record Overall record Champions Runners-up Third place Fourth place Tournament played fully or partially on home soil
FIFA World Cup recordQualification record Year Round Position 1930 Runners-up 2nd 5 4 0 1 18 9 Invited 1934 Round of 16 9th 1 0 0 1 2 3 Qualified by opponent's withdrawal 1938 Withdrew Withdrew due to hosting disagreement 1950 1954 Withdrew due to political decision 1958 Group stage 13th 3 1 0 2 5 10 4 3 0 1 10 2 1962 10th 3 1 1 1 2 3 2 2 0 0 11 3 1966 Quarter-finals 5th 4 2 1 1 4 2 4 3 1 0 9 2 1970 Did not qualify 4 1 1 2 4 6 1974 Second group stage 8th 6 1 2 3 9 12 4 3 1 0 9 2 1978 Champions 1st 7 5 1 1 15 4 Qualified as hosts 1982 Second group stage 11th 5 2 0 3 8 7 Qualified as defending champions 1986 Champions 1st 7 6 1 0 14 5 6 4 1 1 12 6 1990 Runners-up 2nd 7 2 3 2 5 4 Qualified as defending champions 1994 Round of 16 10th 4 2 0 2 8 6 8 4 2 2 9 10 1998 Quarter-finals 6th 5 3 1 1 10 4 16 8 6 2 23 13 2002 Group stage 18th 3 1 1 1 2 2 18 13 4 1 42 15 2006 Quarter-finals 6th 5 3 2 1 11 3 18 10 4 4 29 17 20105th 5 4 0 1 10 6 18 8 4 6 23 20 2014 Runners-up 2nd 7 5 1 1 8 4 16 9 5 2 35 15 2018 Round of 16 16th 4 1 1 2 6 9 18 7 7 4 19 16 2022Champions1st7421158171160278 2026Runners-up 2nd87011981812243110 2030Qualified as centenary co-hosts Qualified as centenary co-hosts 2034To be determinedTo be determined Total: 19/23 3 Titles 96 54 17 25 171 109 153 86 42 25 262 135
Argentina's World Cup recordFirst match 1–0 (15 July 1930; Montevideo, Uruguay)Biggest win 6–0 (21 June 1978; Rosario, Argentina) 6–0 (16 June 2006; Gelsenkirchen, Germany)Biggest defeat 6–1 (15 June 1958; Helsingborg, Sweden)Best resultChampions in 1978, 1986 and 2022Worst resultGroup stage in 1958, 1962 and 2002
Finals
Year Manager(s) Captain Argentina scorers 1930 Francisco Olazar / Juan José Tramutola Manuel Ferreira Carlos Peucelle, Guillermo Stábile 1978 César Luis Menotti Daniel Passarella Mario Kempes (2), Daniel Bertoni 1986 Carlos Bilardo Diego Maradona José Luis Brown, Jorge Valdano, Jorge Burruchaga 1990 Carlos Bilardo Diego Maradona 2014 Alejandro Sabella Lionel Messi 2022 Lionel Scaloni Lionel Messi Lionel Messi (2), Ángel Di María 2026 Lionel Scaloni Lionel Messi
By match Year RoundOpponentScoreVenueArgentina scorers 1930Group 11–0Parque Central, MontevideoMonti6–3Centenario, MontevideoStábile (3), Zumelzú (2), Varallo3–1Centenario, MontevideoStábile (2), EvaristoSemi-finals6–1Centenario, MontevideoMonti, Scopelli, Stábile (2), Peucelle (2)Final2–4Centenario, MontevideoPeucelle, Stábile 1934Round of 162–3Stadio Littoriale, BolognaBelis, Galateo 1958Group 11–3Malmö Stadion, MalmöCorbatta3–1Örjans Vall, HalmstadCorbatta, Menéndez, Avio1–6Olympiastadion, HelsingborgCorbatta 1962Group 41–0El Teniente, RancaguaFacundo1–3El Teniente, RancaguaSanfilippo0–0El Teniente, Rancagua 1966Group 22–1Villa Park, BirminghamArtime (2)0–0Villa Park, Birmingham2–0Hillsborough, SheffieldArtime, OnegaQuarter-finals0–1Wembley, London 1974Group 42–3Neckarstadion, StuttgartHeredia, Babington1–1Neckarstadion, StuttgartHouseman4–1Olympiastadion, MunichYazalde (2), Houseman, AyalaGroup A0–4Parkstadion, Gelsenkirchen1–2Niedersachsenstadion, HanoverBrindisi1–1Parkstadion, GelsenkirchenHouseman 1978Group 12–1Monumental, Buenos AiresLuque, Bertoni2–1Monumental, Buenos AiresPassarella, Luque0–1Monumental, Buenos AiresGroup B2–0Gigante de Arroyito, RosarioKempes (2)0–0Gigante de Arroyito, Rosario6–0Gigante de Arroyito, RosarioKempes (2), Tarantini, Luque (2), HousemanFinal3–1 Monumental, Buenos AiresKempes (2), Bertoni 1982Group 30–1Camp Nou, Barcelona4–1José Rico Pérez, AlicanteBertoni, Maradona (2), Ardiles2–0José Rico Pérez, AlicantePassarella, BertoniGroup C1–2Sarrià, BarcelonaPassarella1–3Sarrià, BarcelonaDíaz 1986Group A3–1Estadio Olímpico Universitario, Mexico CityValdano (2), Ruggeri1–1Cuauhtémoc, PueblaMaradona2–0Estadio Olímpico Universitario, Mexico CityValdano, BurruchagaRound of 161–0Cuauhtémoc, PueblaPasculliQuarter-finals2–1Estadio Azteca, Mexico CityMaradona (2)Semi-finals2–0Estadio Azteca, Mexico CityMaradona (2)Final3–2Estadio Azteca, Mexico CityBrown, Valdano, Burruchaga 1990Group B0–1San Siro, Milan2–0San Paolo, NaplesTroglio, Burruchaga1–1San Paolo, NaplesMonzónRound of 16 1–0Stadio Delle Alpi, TurinCaniggiaQuarter-finals0–0 Artemio Franchi, FlorenceSemi-finals1–1 San Paolo, NaplesCaniggiaFinal0–1Olimpico, Rome 1994Group D4–0Foxboro Stadium, FoxboroughBatistuta (3), Maradona2–1Foxboro Stadium, FoxboroughCaniggia (2)0–2Cotton Bowl, DallasRound of 162–3Rose Bowl, PasadenaBatistuta, Balbo 1998Group H1–0Stadium Municipal, ToulouseBatistuta5–0Parc des Princes, ParisOrtega (2), Batistuta (3)1–0Parc Lescure, BordeauxPinedaRound of 162–2 Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-ÉtienneBatistuta, ZanettiQuarter-finals1–2Vélodrome, MarseilleLópez 2002Group F1–0Kashima, Ibaraki prefectureBatistuta0–1Sapporo Dome, Sapporo1–1Miyagi, RifuCrespo 2006Group C2–1Volksparkstadion, HamburgCrespo, Saviola6–0Arena AufSchalke, GelsenkirchenRodríguez (2), Cambiasso, Crespo, Tevez, Messi0–0Waldstadion, FrankfurtRound of 162–1 Zentralstadion, LeipzigCrespo, RodríguezQuarter-finals1–1 Olympiastadion, BerlinAyala 2010Group B1–0Ellis Park, JohannesburgHeinze4–1Soccer City, JohannesburgPark (o.g.), Higuaín (3)2–0Peter Mokaba, PolokwaneDemichelis, PalermoRound of 163–1Soccer City, JohannesburgTevez (2), HiguaínQuarter-finals0–4Green Point, Cape Town 2014Group F2–1Maracanã, Rio de JaneiroKolašinac (o.g.), Messi1–0Mineirão, Belo HorizonteMessi3–2Beira-Rio, Porto AlegreMessi (2), RojoRound of 161–0 Arena Corinthians, São PauloDi MaríaQuarter-finals 1–0Estádio Nacional, BrasíliaHiguaínSemi-finals0–0 Arena Corinthians, São PauloFinal0–1 Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro 2018Group D1–1Spartak Stadium, MoscowAgüero0–3Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod2–1Zenit Arena, Saint PetersburgMessi, RojoRound of 163–4Kazan Arena, KazanDi María, Mercado, Agüero 2022Group C1–2Lusail Stadium, LusailMessi2–0Lusail Stadium, Lusail Messi, Fernández2–0Stadium 974, DohaMac Allister, AlvarezRound of 162–1Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al RayyanMessi, AlvarezQuarter-finals2–2 Lusail Stadium, LusailMolina, MessiSemi-finals3–0Lusail Stadium, LusailMessi, Alvarez (2)Final3–3 Lusail Stadium, LusailMessi (2), Di María 2026Group J3–0Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas CityMessi (3)2–0AT&T Stadium, ArlingtonMessi (2)3–1AT&T Stadium, ArlingtonLo Celso, La. Martínez, MessiRound of 32 3–2 Hard Rock Stadium, Miami GardensMessi, Li. Martínez, Diney (o.g.)Round of 163–2Mercedes-Benz Stadium, AtlantaRomero, Messi, FernándezQuarter-finals3–1 Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City Mac Allister, Alvarez, La. MartínezSemi-finals2–1Mercedes-Benz Stadium, AtlantaFernández, La. MartínezFinal0–1 MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford 2030TBATBAvMonumental, Buenos Aires
By opponent Argentina have played a total of 96 World Cup matches across 19 tournaments, facing 44 different opponents.
FIFA World Cup matches (by opponent)OpponentConfederation4211981UEFA44001358CONCACAF1100312CONMEBOL1100615CONCACAF210134−1CONMEBOL201134−1UEFA7124512−7UEFA1100312UEFA100116−5UEFA3201321UEFA621379−2UEFA3210624UEFA2101220UEFA3300615UEFA3201633UEFA503246−2UEFA1100413CONCACAF613269−3UEFA411235−2CONMEBOL*1010110UEFA1100606CONMEBOL3201312UEFA1100202CONCACAF2200725AFC100101−1CAF*1100202UEFA201134−1UEFA2110606UEFA2200606UEFA5500945CAF1100101AFC1100505CONCACAF3201431UEFA1100211CAF1100211UEFA1100101AFC1010110UEFA100112−1AFC1100211AFC1100303CAF1100202UEFA1100312AFC1100321CAF1100321CAF Teams in bold denote previous World Cup winners, teams in italics denote sides that made their tournament debut against Argentina. Teams with a * mark no longer exist; East Germany was annexed to Germany, and the Soviet Union now plays as Russia.
By confederation FIFA delegates regional qualification and other organizational affairs to continental conferences, with six different groups separated by geographical location. Argentina plays in CONMEBOL, the confederation for South American teams. Due to World Cup rules that state two teams from the same confederation cannot be in the same group for the first round (with the exception of European UEFA sides), Argentina commonly faces teams from outside their region, including Europe, Africa and Asia. However, the Argentine national team has never played against an Oceanian (OFC) side at the World Cup.
FIFA World Cup matches (by confederation)ConfederationOpponentsTotalWinsDrawsLossesGFGAGDAFC7601156+9CAF109012010+10CONCACAF8800307+23CONMEBOL84131510+5OFC/0000000UEFA632716209177+14
World Cup Finals
1930 v Uruguay
The inaugural FIFA World Cup tournament culminated with Argentina facing hosts and reigning Olympic champions Uruguay. The match was turned twice: Argentina went into half-time with a 2–1 lead in spite of an early goal for Uruguay, but the hosts ultimately won 4–2. Guillermo Stábile, who recorded Argentina's second goal in the match, finished as the tournament's top scorer with eight goals in total.
GK Enrique BallestreroRB José Nasazzi (c)LB Ernesto MascheroniRH José AndradeCH Lorenzo FernándezLH Álvaro GestidoOR Pablo DoradoIR Héctor ScaroneCF Héctor CastroIL Pedro CeaOL Santos IriarteManager:Alberto SuppiciGK Juan BotassoRB José Della TorreLB Fernando PaternosterRH Juan EvaristoCH Luis MontiLH Pedro SuárezOR Carlos PeucelleIR Francisco VaralloCF Guillermo StábileIL Manuel Ferreira (c)OL Mario EvaristoManagers:Francisco Olazar Juan José Tramutola
1978 v Netherlands
Argentina hosted the 1978 edition of the World Cup and reached the final for a second time. Their opponents the Netherlands had already played the previous 1974 final in West Germany, and also lost to the hosts.
Diego Maradona was 17 years old at this point and already a star in his home country, but did not make the squad as coach César Luis Menotti felt he was too inexperienced to handle the pressure of a major tournament. The playmaker position was instead filled by Mario Kempes, who became the first Argentinian to win the Golden Ball in addition to being the tournament's top scorer with six goals. The Dutch side was missing a superstar of their own: Johan Cruyff did not join the 1978 World Cup squad due to the aftermath of a kidnapping attempt which occurred in 1977; he only disclosed this information 30 years later.
The closely contested match was influenced by a hostile atmosphere and ended with the Dutch players refusing to attend the award ceremony after Argentina won the title in extra time.
GK 5 Ubaldo FillolRB 15Jorge OlguínCB 7 Luis GalvánCB 19Daniel Passarella (c)LB 20Alberto TarantiniDM 6 Américo GallegoCM 2 Osvaldo Ardiles AM 10Mario KempesRW 4 Daniel BertoniLW 16Oscar Alberto Ortiz CF 14Leopoldo LuqueSubstitutes:MF 1 Norberto AlonsoGK 3 Héctor BaleyMF 8 Rubén GalvánMF 9 René Houseman MF 12Omar Larrosa Manager: César Luis Menotti GK 8 Jan JongbloedSW 5 Ruud Krol (c) RB 6 Wim Jansen CB 22Ernie BrandtsLB 2 Jan Poortvliet RM 13Johan NeeskensCM 9 Arie HaanLM 11Willy van de KerkhofRF 10René van de KerkhofCF 16Johnny Rep LF 12Rob RensenbrinkSubstitutes:DF 4 Adrie van KraayDF 17Wim RijsbergenFW 18Dick Nanninga GK 19Pim DoesburgDF 20Wim Suurbier Manager: Ernst Happel
1986 v West Germany