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.
England1–2Argentina
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
55'Anthony Gordon
1–0
1–1
85'Enzo Fernández
1–2
90+2'Lautaro Martínez
Match stats
Lineups
England
Argentina
- 1Jordan Pickford
- 5John Stones↓90'
- 6Marc Guéhi
- 24Reece James↓82'
- 25Djed Spence↓90'
- 4Declan Rice↓82'
- 8Elliot Anderson
- 10Jude Bellingham
- 17Morgan Rogers
- 9Harry Kane
- 18Anthony Gordon↓72'
- 23Emiliano Martínez
- 3Nicolás Tagliafico↓81'
- 6Lisandro Martínez↓72'
- 13Cristian Romero
- 26Nahuel Molina↓72'
- 5Leandro Paredes↓64'
- 20Alexis Mac Allister
- 24Enzo Fernández
- 9Julián Alvarez
- 10Lionel Messi
- 17Giuliano Simeone↓72'
Substitutes
- 2Ezri Konsa↑72'
- 3Nico O'Reilly↑82'
- 15Dan Burn↑82'
- 11Marcus Rashford↑90'
- 22Ivan Toney↑90'
- 4Gonzalo Montiel↑72'
- 19Nicolás Otamendi↑72'
- 7Rodrigo De Paul↑72'
- 15Nicolás González↑64'
- 22Lautaro Martínez↑81'