Written and Fact-checked by Whereig Editors | Last Updated On: May 20, 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 |
Argentina FIFA World Cup 2026 Full Squad List
Coach: Lionel Scaloni
Goalkeepers
| No. | Player | Club | Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emiliano Martínez | Aston Villa | 33 |
| 12 | Gerónimo Rulli | Ajax | 34 |
| 23 | Walter Benítez | PSV Eindhoven | 32 |
Defenders
| No. | Player | Club | Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Nahuel Molina | Atlético Madrid | 28 |
| 3 | Nicolás Tagliafico | Lyon | 33 |
| 4 | Gonzalo Montiel | Nottingham Forest | 29 |
| 6 | Lisandro Martínez | Manchester United | 28 |
| 13 | Cristian Romero | Tottenham Hotspur | 28 |
| 19 | Nicolás Otamendi | Benfica | 38 |
| 21 | Juan Foyth | Villarreal | 28 |
| 26 | Marcos Acuña | Sevilla | 35 |
Midfielders
| No. | Player | Club | Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Leandro Paredes | Roma | 32 |
| 7 | Rodrigo De Paul | Atlético Madrid | 32 |
| 8 | Enzo Fernández | Chelsea | 25 |
| 14 | Exequiel Palacios | Bayer Leverkusen | 27 |
| 15 | Alexis Mac Allister | Liverpool | 27 |
| 16 | Giovani Lo Celso | Tottenham Hotspur | 30 |
| 20 | Thiago Almada | Botafogo | 25 |
Forwards
| No. | Player | Club | Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Julián Álvarez | Manchester City | 26 |
| 10 | Lionel Messi | Inter Miami | 39 |
| 11 | Ángel Di María | Benfica | 38 |
| 17 | Alejandro Garnacho | Manchester United | 22 |
| 18 | Lautaro Martínez | Inter Milan | 29 |
| 22 | Nicolás González | Fiorentina | 28 |
| 24 | Paulo Dybala | Roma | 33 |
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
The 2026 FIFA World Cup has not started yet and Argentina’s official tournament results will be updated after each match.
| Date | Match | Result | Score | Venue | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TBD | Argentina vs TBD | Upcoming Fixture | TBD | TBD | 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
