Argentina are set to begin their latest FIFA World Cup campaign against Algeria, with the match scheduled for 7:00 a.m. Bangladesh time. This fixture will mark the nation’s 19th opening match at a World Cup. A review of their previous 18 opening fixtures provides a clear picture of how they have historically started the tournament.
Argentina played their first World Cup match on 15 July 1930 in Uruguay, defeating France 1–0 through a goal by Luis Monti in the 81st minute. They reached the final in that inaugural tournament but finished runners-up after losing 4–2 to the hosts, Uruguay.
In 1934 in Italy, Argentina suffered a 3–2 defeat to Sweden in their opening match, which also ended their campaign due to the knockout format. After missing three consecutive tournaments, they returned in 1958 in Sweden, losing 3–1 to West Germany despite taking an early lead through Oreste Corbatta. A heavy 6–1 defeat to Czechoslovakia later saw them eliminated in the group stage.
Argentina opened with a 1–0 win over Bulgaria in Chile in 1962 but failed to progress. In England in 1966, they beat Spain 2–1 and reached the quarter-finals, where they were eliminated by the hosts.
Their 1974 campaign in West Germany began with a 3–2 loss to Poland, though they advanced to the second round. In 1978, hosting the tournament, Argentina defeated Hungary 2–1 in their opening match and went on to win their first World Cup, beating the Netherlands 3–1 in the final.
As reigning champions in 1982 in Spain, they lost 1–0 to Belgium. In 1986 in Mexico, they defeated South Korea 3–1 and ultimately won their second title, overcoming West Germany 3–2 in the final.
In 1990 in Italy, Argentina lost 1–0 to Cameroon but still reached the final, where they finished runners-up after a 1–0 defeat to West Germany. They opened the 1994 tournament in the United States with a 4–0 win over Greece, featuring a hat-trick from Gabriel Batistuta, but were eliminated in the Round of 16.
Subsequent opening results include a 1–0 win over Japan in 1998, a 1–0 win over Nigeria in 2002 (despite a group-stage exit), a 2–1 win over Ivory Coast in 2006, and a 1–0 win over Nigeria in 2010. In 2014, they defeated Bosnia and Herzegovina 2–1 and reached the final, losing to Germany.
In 2018, Argentina drew 1–1 with Iceland. In 2022, they suffered a 2–1 defeat to Saudi Arabia, ending a 36-match unbeaten run, but went on to win the tournament by defeating France in the final.
Argentina Opening Match Record
| Category | Record |
|---|---|
| Matches Played | 18 |
| Wins | 11 |
| Losses | 6 |
| Draws | 1 |
| Goals Scored | 27 |
| Goals Conceded | 19 |
Argentina failed to score in only two opening matches, in 1982 and 1990. Overall, their record demonstrates a generally strong start to World Cup campaigns, despite several notable setbacks.