When could Argentina break the world record unbeaten streak at the 2022 World Cup?

Argentina’s World Cup preparations both started and ended – in terms of warm-up games, at least – with a 5-0 victory over the UAE on Wednesday. A superb first-half performance had Lionel Scaloni’s men 4-0 up at the interval, with Ángel Di María’s double and goals from Julián Álvarez and Lionel Messi (of course) added to in the second half by a Joaquín Correa strike.

Argentina now unbeaten in 36 matches in international soccer

The resounding win means that Messi and his troops have now gone 36 matches without tasting defeat, with their last loss coming at the hands of Brazil in the semi-finals of the 2019 Copa América. Since then, they have recorded 25 victories and 11 draws in a combination of friendly matches, World Cup 2022 qualifying and the 2021 Copa América, a tournament they won for the 15th time. On top of that, Scaloni’s men beat Euro 2020 winners Italy to win the inaugural edition of La Finalissima, the rebranded CONEMBOL-UEFA Cup of Champions.

How close have Argentina come to defeat along the way?

Their journey to the 2021 Copa América final could easily have ended at the semi-final stage, where they needed a penalty shoot-out to see off Colombia. And the trickiest fixture they have been scheduled to play – at least on paper – in the last three years was postponed and then cancelled by FIFA. Argentina had been due to face Brazil in 2022 World Cup qualifying in September 2021 but the game was postponed due to the Brazilian health authorities accusing several Argentinian players of breaking the country’s COVID-19 quarantine rules. With both teams already assured of a place at the World Cup, FIFA decided to void the match and it was never played.

Italy are the current record holders in men’s international soccer having gone unbeaten for three years between October 2018 and October 2021, a run of 37 games. That included the aforementioned Euro 2022 triumph and came to an end with a defeat to Spain in the semi-finals of the 2021 National League Final four.

When could Argentina break the world record unbeaten streak?

Argentina head into what will be Lionel Messi’s last World Cup in red-hot form. They have won their last four matches by an aggregate score of 19-0 and have been tipped by many to end their 36-year wait to win the world’s biggest sporting competition.

With just two more games needed to set a new record, is it a matter of ‘when’, rather than ‘if’?

La Albiceleste have been drawn in group C alongside Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Poland and will be expected by most to cruise to first place in the group. A win (or draw) against the Saudis on Tuesday, November 22 would allow them tie to Italy’s record, which means the clash with Mexico on Saturday, November 26 is the one that could make or break their dreams.

Argentina’s World Cup Group C schedule

Tuesday, November 22 – Argentina vs Saudi Arabia

Saturday, November 26 – Argentina vs Mexico

Wednesday, November 30 – Argentina vs Poland