Football World Cup: One of the primary things Menotti did was to change the training routines for a bigger competition. He prepared the national team as a greater priority and continued the period of planning. More players were strained before a squad was obvious for a FIFA World Cup than had been the case before. One of the applicants for the Argentina XI at that time was the 17-year-old Diego Maradona, who completed his debut in 1977.
Celebrate the pinnacle of international football at the Football World Cup 2026 featuring powerhouse teams and electrifying showdowns across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Secure your Argentina FIFA World Cup Tickets now to witness football brilliance live! Hurry, tickets are selling fast!
Argentina FIFA World Cup Tickets | FIFA World Cup Tickets | FIFA World Cup 2026 Tickets | FIFA 2026 Tickets | Football World Cup Tickets | Football World Cup 2026
In the end, Maradona was accepted from the 1978 Football World Cup squad, but the young sensation would later polish with the Argentina U20 team, which won the 1979 FIFA World Cup Youth Tournament. Vladislav Cap had been dismissed as head coach of the national team after the 1974 World Cup, and Luis Menotti assumed the role.
Menotti would discontinuity into the part for eight years and turn out to be one of the most iconic AFA football coaches. His footballing philosophy left a lasting impact on Argentine football, and he was also the first to guide the team to a Football World Cup title. The squad Menotti assembled for the 1978 FIFA World Cup consisted entirely of players based in South America, except Mario Kempes from Valencia.
The eagerly anticipated tournament began, and Argentina appeared to be in strong form after winning their first two matches against Hungary and France. Italy awaited them in the final group match, and this time, the setback occurred: Argentina was defeated 1-0. Despite this, Argentina progressed to the second round, where they were placed in a group with Brazil, Peru, and Poland.
The vital match against Brazil over in a draw, turning the condition into a competition for the best goal difference. Brazil had a goal modification of +5 after three games, while Argentina had only +2 before their final match against Peru. They wanted to win by at least three goals.
The match on June 21 at Estadio Gigante de Arroyito has become one of the most disputed games in Football World Cup history. When the referee blew the final whistle, Argentina had won 6-0 and advanced to the final, while Brazil was set to compete for third place. There has been speculation that the match against Peru was rigged, but no evidence has ever been substantiated.
In the end, white confetti poured over the Estadio Monumental field in Buenos Aires as Argentina, led by Mario Kempes, triumphed over the Netherlands in a dramatic final. The Maradona era followed. The 1982 FIFA World Cup coincided with the Falklands War, and the Argentine press made every effort to suggest that Argentina was in a stronger position.
The Argentine players received surprising news upon their arrival in Europe when they read Spanish newspapers reporting the war from an impartial perspective, revealing that Argentina was losing in the conflict. From the very first match, it was evident that the 1982 Argentine team could not match the championship standard of 1978, despite Maradona being part of the squad.
Argentina FIFA World Cup Tickets | FIFA World Cup Tickets | FIFA World Cup 2026 Tickets | FIFA 2026 Tickets | Football World Cup Tickets | Football World Cup 2026
They were defeated in their opening match against Belgium but recovered with wins in their next two group games. In the second round, Argentina was placed in a group with Italy and Brazil, losing both matches. Italy succeeded over the Albiceleste 2-1 and went on to win the title. Shortly after the 1982 Football World Cup, Menotti stepped down, and Carlos Bilardo, who had achieved success with Estudiantes, was appointed as the new national team coach.
Carlos Bilardo is often recollected as a highly productive coach, leading Argentina to two FIFA World Cup finals. However, this period was marked by the team's worst overall performance in competitions. During the 1980s, Argentina's best finish in the Copa América was third place.
The 1996 Football World Cup in Mexico is most fondly remembered for its golden era. The victory is often attributed to a single player, but football is, of course, more complex. Tactically, Argentina had a secret weapon a 3-5-2 formation that Bilardo first experimented with in 1984.
Get ready for an electrifying experience at FIFA World Cup 2026! Secure your tickets today for the FIFA World Cup Tickets and witness the thrilling matches on football’s grandest stage. This is your chance to be part of the action-packed excitement as the world’s best teams compete for glory. Join us in supporting our team and experience the passion, drama, and unforgettable moments of this historic tournament.
Many stars were expected to deliver stellar performances in Mexico that summer, including Enzo Francescoli, Michel Platini, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, and Hugo Sánchez. However, one player eclipsed them all: Diego Maradona, who scored 5 goals and provided 5 assists, contributing to Argentina's total of 14 goals in the tournament.
A key factor in Maradona's outstanding role was that the referees did not permit the same level of rough play that had hampered and frustrated him in 1982. Additionally, the team was structured around him, which naturally assigned him a leading role.
Argentina advanced smoothly from their group with two wins and a draw. Maradona's performance was impressive, but he elevated his game even further in the subsequent matches against Uruguay, England, and Belgium. In the final, however, his influence was less pronounced; West Germany effectively neutralized his impact.
Argentina FIFA World Cup Tickets | FIFA World Cup Tickets | FIFA World Cup 2026 Tickets | FIFA 2026 Tickets | Football World Cup Tickets | Football World Cup 2026
But they could not prevent him from delivering a flawless pass to Burruchaga, setting him up to score the decisive 3-2 goal against goalkeeper Harald Schumacher. The results following the 1986 World Cup were, however, disappointing for the world champions. In 1987, as hosts of the Copa América, the AFA was eliminated in the semi-finals after a 0-1 loss to Uruguay and then lost the third-place match to Colombia.
Claudio Caniggia was part of the 1987 Copa América squad and would go on to replace Valdano as Maradona’s forward partner in the subsequent Football World Cup. The 1990 World Cup, held in Italy, nearly resulted in another Argentine triumph. However, the team's performance did not reach the heights of the previous tournament, and Maradona's impact was diminished by a toe injury.
Argentina had to fight through adversity, beginning with a shocking loss to Cameroon in their opening match. In that game, goalkeeper Nery Pumpido felt the pain of a broken leg and was exchanged by Sergio Goycochea. Goycochea, renowned for his penalty-saving skills, would prove to be a crucial player as Argentina faced two penalty shootouts.
After overcoming Brazil in the Round of 16, highlighted by Maradona’s unforgettable moment—dribbling the ball from midfield and, when surrounded by Brazilian defenders, setting up Caniggia to score Argentina did not win any more matches in regular time. Following 0-0 and 1-1 draws, they progressed past Yugoslavia and Italy through penalty shootouts.
Albeit only number three in the group, being constrained by Brazil in the Round of 16 and winning only after penalty shootouts, Argentina was in another Football World Cup final. But the odds were not the best. Besides not executing on a champion level, Cannigia had conventional his second yellow card in the semi-final and wasn’t permitted to play in the final.
The viewers of the final would see the Argentine players bringing anti-football. Symptomatically, a penalty in the last ten minutes would relax the outcome in kindness the West Germany. It would take 24 years until Argentina made it to the final in another Football World Cup and that game would also end seriously after one German goal. FIFA World Cup: The Rise and Revival of Argentina Football Evolution.
During the following years, Maradona’s life was busy and pretentious with affairs outside the football field and it was an astonishment to many that he finally ended up in the 1994 FIFA World Cup squad Maradona had rejoined the team for the Playoff match against Australia. But unhappily, the Football World Cup story would rapidly end shortly.
Although a fine presentation on the field, Maradona would not continue in the tournament after testing optimistic for ephedrine. Maradona would be substituted by Ariel Ortega, who was an exciting player whose style bear a resemblance to the former number 10. Argentina was nevertheless eradicated by a terrific playing Romania in the Round of 16.
New generations
New generations of players would take on and among the most noticeable would be names such as Javier Zanetti, Gabriel Batistuta, Diego Simeone, and Juan Sebastián Verón. Daniel Passarella had taken over as trainer and introduced a severe discipline. Batistuta was unglued from the team for a long dated until he finally got a haircut.
Fernando Redondo who rejected a concession remained separate from the team. In the Football World Cup that followed, Argentina would remove England after a thriller, but lose a constricted semi-final against the Netherlands. In 2002 Argentina now with Marcelo Bielsa as trainer, once again faced England, this time in the group, and went down 1-2.
That meant they had to win against Sweden in the last match or England had to lose to Nigeria, but despite a huge playing advantage, the match ended 1-1. Argentina was out even now in the first round; it hadn’t occurred since 1962. The Argentine side that arrived in the following Football World Cup was full of star players such as Esteban Cambiasso, Javier Mascherano, and Juan Román Riquelme.
Argentina FIFA World Cup Tickets | FIFA World Cup Tickets | FIFA World Cup 2026 Tickets | FIFA 2026 Tickets | Football World Cup Tickets | Football World Cup 2026
As one of the favorites, they became even more bestowed after a 6-0 demolition of Serbia and Montenegro, which also included a display of magnificent football. In the same match, Lionel Messi made his Football World Cup debut and contributed with one assist and one goal. The match in contradiction of Mexico in the round of 16 was more even than predictable but in the end.
Maxi Rodríguez would make it 2-1 in extra time with a beautiful long-range shot. Sadly, for the fans of Argentina, the national team was to be eradicated. After a disadvantaged shootout by the host team Germany in the quarter-finals. The coach José Pékerman would be disapproved for not letting Messi play a single minute in the last game.
We are offering FIFA World Cup Tickets. Football admirers can get FIFA 2026 Tickets through our trusted online ticketing marketplace. Xchangetickets.com is the most reliable source to book Football World Cup Tickets. Sign up for the latest Ticket alert. Don’t miss out on the chance to be at the heart of football history grab your tickets now and be there for the ultimate showdown!