Written and Fact-checked by Whereig Editors | Last Updated On: June 05, 2026
Argentina have won the FIFA World Cup three times - in 1978, 1986, and most recently Qatar 2022 - and arrive in 2026 as defending champions with Lionel Messi captaining the side at a record-extending sixth tournament. This page covers the Albiceleste's complete World Cup stats, records, all-time top scorers, head-to-head results, the full 2026 squad, and their Group J schedule against Algeria, Austria, and Jordan opening June 16 in Kansas City.
Argentina enters the 2026 FIFA World Cup as one of the strongest teams in international football after winning the 2022 tournament in Qatar. Explore Argentina’s latest squad list, match schedule, results, World Cup records, top scorers, and complete tournament history.
Argentina continues to carry strong expectations into the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a successful period under Lionel Scaloni. The national side combines experienced players with emerging young talent and remains one of the favorites to compete for another World Cup title.
The team has built one of the most balanced squads in world football with strength in midfield, defensive organization, and attacking depth. Argentina’s performances in recent international competitions have further increased confidence ahead of the 2026 tournament.
Argentina FIFA World Cup Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Country | Argentina |
| Football Association | Argentine Football Association (AFA) |
| Confederation | CONMEBOL |
| Nickname | La Albiceleste |
| FIFA Ranking | Top 5 |
| First FIFA World Cup Appearance | 1930 |
| Total FIFA World Cup Appearances | 18 |
| Consecutive Appearances | 13 (1974-2022) |
| World Cup Titles | 3 (1978, 1986, 2022) |
| Runner-up Finishes | 3 |
| Total Finals Played | 6 |
| Total Matches Played | 88 |
| Total Wins | 47 |
| Total Draws | 17 |
| Total Losses | 24 |
| Goals Scored | 152 |
| Goals Conceded | 101 |
| Win Percentage | 53.4% |
| Clean Sheets | 33 |
| Penalty Shootout Record | Won 5, Lost 1 |
| Most World Cup Matches by Player | Lionel Messi - 26 |
| Most Goals by Player | Lionel Messi - 13 |
| Largest Victory | 6-0 vs Peru (1978) |
| Biggest Defeat | 1-6 vs Czechoslovakia (1958) |
| Latest FIFA World Cup Title | 2022 |
FIFA World Cup 2026 - Argentina Full Squad List
Captain: Lionel Messi.
Coach: Lionel Scaloni.
Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa), Gerónimo Rulli (Olympique de Marseille), Juan Musso (Atlético de Madrid).
Defenders: Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur), Lisandro Martínez (Manchester United), Nicolás Otamendi (Benfica), Nahuel Molina (Atlético de Madrid), Nicolás Tagliafico (Olympique Lyonnais), Facundo Medina (Olympique de Marseille), Leonardo Balerdi (Olympique de Marseille), Gonzalo Montiel (River Plate).
Midfielders: Enzo Fernández (Chelsea), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Rodrigo De Paul (Inter Miami), Leandro Paredes (Boca Juniors), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen), Giovani Lo Celso (Real Betis), Valentín Barco (RC Strasbourg).
Forwards: Lionel Messi (Inter Miami), Julián Álvarez (Atlético de Madrid), Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan), Thiago Almada (Atlético de Madrid), Nicolás González (Atlético de Madrid), Giuliano Simeone (Atlético de Madrid), Nicolás Paz (Como 1907), José Manuel López (Palmeiras).
Argentina FIFA World Cup 2026 Schedule
| Match No. | Date | Match | Venue | City | Stage | Time (Local) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | Tue, June 16 | Argentina vs Algeria | Kansas City Stadium (Arrowhead) | Kansas City | Group Stage | 20:00 |
| 43 | Mon, June 22 | Argentina vs Austria | Dallas Stadium (AT&T) | Dallas | Group Stage | 12:00 |
| 68 | Sat, June 27 | Jordan vs Argentina | Kansas City Stadium (Arrowhead) | Kansas City | Group Stage | 12:00 |
Argentina FIFA World Cup 2026 Results
| Date | Match | Match Score | Venue | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 June 2026 | Argentina vs Algeria | Upcoming Fixture | Kansas City Stadium (Arrowhead), Kansas City | Group Stage |
| 22 June 2026 | Argentina vs Austria | Upcoming Fixture | Dallas Stadium (AT&T), Arlington | Group Stage |
| 27 June 2026 | Jordan vs Argentina | Upcoming Fixture | Kansas City Stadium (Arrowhead), Kansas City | Group Stage |
Argentina FIFA World Cup Titles
| Year | Host Country | Final Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Argentina | Netherlands | Won 3-1 |
| 1986 | Mexico | West Germany | Won 3-2 |
| 2022 | Qatar | France | Won 3-3 (4-2 pens) |
Argentina FIFA World Cup Finals History
| Year | Opponent | Result | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930 | Uruguay | Lost 2-4 | Runner-up |
| 1978 | Netherlands | Won 3-1 | Champions |
| 1986 | West Germany | Won 3-2 | Champions |
| 1990 | West Germany | Lost 0-1 | Runner-up |
| 2014 | Germany | Lost 0-1 | Runner-up |
| 2022 | France | Won 3-3 (4-2 pens) | Champions |
Argentina All-Time FIFA World Cup Stats
| Stat | Record |
|---|---|
| Total Matches Played | 88 |
| Wins | 47 |
| Draws | 17 |
| Losses | 24 |
| Goals Scored | 152 |
| Goals Conceded | 101 |
| Clean Sheets | 33 |
| Penalty Shootout Wins | 5 |
| Penalty Shootout Losses | 1 |
Argentina Most FIFA World Cup Appearances
| Rank | Player | Matches | Tournaments | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lionel Messi | 26 | 5 | 2006-2022 |
| 2 | Diego Maradona | 21 | 4 | 1982-1994 |
| 3 | Javier Mascherano | 20 | 4 | 2006-2018 |
| 4 | Javier Zanetti | 17 | 3 | 1998-2010 |
| 5 | Oscar Ruggeri | 16 | 3 | 1986-1994 |
| 6 | Roberto Ayala | 15 | 3 | 1998-2006 |
| 7 | Sergio Romero | 15 | 3 | 2010-2018 |
| 8 | Gabriel Batistuta | 12 | 3 | 1994-2002 |
| 9 | Gonzalo Higuaín | 12 | 3 | 2010-2018 |
| 10 | Ángel Di María | 12 | 4 | 2010-2022 |
Argentina Top Scorers in FIFA World Cup
| Rank | Player | Goals | Matches | World Cups |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lionel Messi | 13 | 26 | 2006-2022 |
| 2 | Gabriel Batistuta | 10 | 12 | 1994-2002 |
| 3 | Guillermo Stábile | 8 | 4 | 1930 |
| 4 | Diego Maradona | 8 | 21 | 1982-1994 |
| 5 | Mario Kempes | 6 | 18 | 1974-1982 |
| 6 | Gonzalo Higuaín | 5 | 12 | 2010-2018 |
| 7 | Daniel Passarella | 5 | 17 | 1978-1986 |
| 8 | Claudio Caniggia | 4 | 10 | 1990-2002 |
| 9 | Leopoldo Luque | 4 | 10 | 1974-1978 |
| 10 | Jorge Valdano | 4 | 10 | 1982-1986 |
Argentina FIFA World Cup Head-to-Head Record
| Opponent | Matches | Wins | Draws | Losses | Goals For | Goals Against |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germany / West Germany | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 11 |
| Brazil | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 6 |
| France | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 8 |
| Netherlands | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 4 |
| England | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Mexico | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 4 |
| Nigeria | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 4 |
| Italy | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 4 |
Argentina FIFA World Cup Performance by Year
| Year | Performance |
|---|---|
| 1930 | Runner-up |
| 1934 | Round of 16 |
| 1958 | Group Stage |
| 1962 | Group Stage |
| 1966 | Quarter-finals |
| 1974 | Second Round |
| 1978 | Champions |
| 1982 | Second Round |
| 1986 | Champions |
| 1990 | Runner-up |
| 1994 | Round of 16 |
| 1998 | Quarter-finals |
| 2002 | Group Stage |
| 2006 | Quarter-finals |
| 2010 | Quarter-finals |
| 2014 | Runner-up |
| 2018 | Round of 16 |
| 2022 | Champions |
FAQs About Argentina FIFA World Cup Records
Argentina has won the FIFA World Cup three times in 1978, 1986, and 2022.
Lionel Messi is Argentina’s leading FIFA World Cup goalscorer with 13 goals.
Argentina has appeared in six FIFA World Cup finals.
Lionel Messi holds the record for the most FIFA World Cup appearances for Argentina with 26 matches.
Argentina’s latest FIFA World Cup title came in 2022 after defeating France in the final in Qatar.
References
- FIFA Official Website
- FIFA World Cup Archive
- Argentine Football Association
- RSSSF Football Statistics
- ESPN Football