2026 FIFA World Cup profile: Argentina

Current FIFA Ranking: 2
Highest FIFA Ranking: 1 (last, July 2025)
Lowest FIFA Ranking: 24 (August 1996)
Football Team Nickname: La Albiceleste (white and sky blues)
Honours:
World Cup (3): 1978, 1986, 2022
Copa America (16, record): 1921, 1925, 1927, 1929, 1937, 1941, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1955, 1957, 1959, 1991, 1993, 2021, 2024
Confederations Cup (1): 1992
Head coach: Lionel Scaloni (since Aug 2018)
Top scorers in qualifying: Lionel Messi (8)
Star players: Lionel Messi (Inter Miami), Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan), Julian Alvarez (Atletico Madrid)
Emi Martinez FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 14: Emiliano Martinez #23 of Argentina looks on during the International Friendly between Argentina and Puerto Rico at Chase Stadium on October 14, 2025 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (Photo by Leonardo Fernandez/Getty Images) (Leonardo Fernandez/Getty Images)
2022 was the year Messi finally won it all and firmly bolted himself into football folklore, becoming the first Argentina captain to lift the World Cup since Diego Maradona in 1986.
Their last World Cup as reigning champions ended in a final defeat to West Germany in 1990 and they will be hoping to become the first nation since Brazil in 1958 and 1962 to retain the title.
Their appearance at the last World Cup held in the USA ended in a Round of 16 defeat v Romania.
Continued their success under Lionel Scaloni by winning the 2024 Copa America where they beat Canada 2-0 in the semi-final in East Rutherford.
Previous World Cup appearances (18):
2022: Winners (3-3 v France; aet, won 4-2 on pens)
2018: Round of 16
2014: Runners-up
2010: Quarter-final
2006: Quarter-final
2002: Group stage
1998: Quarter-final
1994: Round of 16
1990: Runners-up
1986: Winners
1982: Second group stage
1978: Winners
1974: Second group stage
1966: Quarter-final
1962: Group stage
1958: Group stage
1934: Preliminary round
1930: Runners-up




