Argentina failed to win their opening match at each of the last two World Cups — drawing 1-1 with Iceland in 2018 and losing 2-1 to Saudi Arabia in 2022 — yet reached the final in both tournaments and won the title in 2022.
Argentina3–1Switzerland
Stats
Lionel Messi enters the 2026 World Cup on 13 career World Cup goals, three behind Miroslav Klose’s all-time record of 16. Kylian Mbappé starts on 12 goals and needs four to equal the record.
Lionel Messi has scored in six of Argentina's last seven World Cup matches.
Argentina enter the 2026 World Cup unbeaten in their last six World Cup matches (4W-2D) and having scored in each of those games.
Argentina have won their last 7 international matches, going 7W-0D-0L with 21 goals scored and 1 conceded.
Match Events
10'Alexis Mac Allister
1–0
1–1
67'Dan Ndoye
72'Breel Embolo(2nd yellow)
112'Julián Alvarez
2–1
120+1'Lautaro Martínez
3–1
Match stats
Lineups
Argentina
Switzerland
- 23Emiliano Martínez
- 3Nicolás Tagliafico↓78'
- 6Lisandro Martínez
- 13Cristian Romero↓106'
- 26Nahuel Molina↓85'
- 5Leandro Paredes↓110'
- 7Rodrigo De Paul↓85'
- 20Alexis Mac Allister
- 24Enzo Fernández↓91'
- 9Julián Alvarez
- 10Lionel Messi
- 1Gregor Kobel
- 4Nico Elvedi
- 5Manuel Akanji
- 13Ricardo Rodríguez↓90'
- 6Denis Zakaria↓96'
- 8Remo Freuler↓115'
- 10Granit Xhaka
- 15Djibril Sow↓86'
- 22Fabian Rieder↓86'
- 7Breel Embolo
- 11Dan Ndoye↓86'
Substitutes
- 4Gonzalo Montiel↑85'
- 19Nicolás Otamendi↑106'
- 15Nicolás González↑78'
- 16Thiago Almada↑91'
- 21José Manuel López↑110'
- 22Lautaro Martínez↑85'
- 2Miro Muheim↑86'
- 3Silvan Widmer↑86'
- 18Eray Cömert↑90'
- 14Ardon Jashari↑96'
- 17Ruben Vargas↑115'
- 23Zeki Amdouni↑86'