Argentina vs Mexico FIFA World Cup Match 26 Now 2022
About the match
Argentina is going head to head with Mexico starting on 26 Nov 2022 at 19:00 UTC at Lusail Iconic Stadium stadium, Lusail city, Qatar. The match is a part of the World Cup, Group C.
Since losing to Brazil in the 2019 Copa America, Argentina had embarked on a national record 36-game unbeaten run, and as reigning South American champions, arrived among most pundits’ favourites for the final four at least.
Yet, all that momentum counted for little on the first day of their World Cup campaign, as Lionel Scaloni’s side let an early advantage slip from their grasp during the space of six second-half minutes at Lusail Stadium.
Leading through Lionel Messi’s opener from the penalty spot, the Albiceleste seemed in control of affairs at half time, having seen three other ‘goals’ ruled out for offside. Two Saudi Arabian strikes shortly after the interval turned the game on its head, however, and Group C’s underdogs held out to record a result that will echo through the ages.
With the last of their global triumphs coming back in the summer of 1986, Argentina were already under pressure to deliver a first World Cup trophy for approaching 40 years – particularly in what is set to be Messi’s swansong on the game’s grandest stage.
Therefore, Scaloni must quickly rally his troops before they tackle the nation that hosted their last success at this level: a Mexico side who sit one point above Argentina in the standings.
Having beaten El Tri in the World Cup’s first-ever edition in 1930, the Argentinians have more recently eliminated their Latin rivals twice in the last 16, and they also remain undefeated in the countries’ last 10 meetings dating back to 2004.
All of which plays in their favour if precedent is any guide, but the world will now be watching with anticipation as they respond to their seismic shock against the Saudis.
One of several goalless stalemates in the opening week of Qatar 2022, a 0-0 draw with Poland set Mexico’s tournament off to a relatively steady start on Tuesday, and in some respects a single-point haul was gratefully received by Tata Martino’s men in the end.
After Hector Moreno was deemed to have felled Robert Lewandowski in the box, the Polish marksman failed to convert his golden chance from the penalty spot, as veteran goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa pulled off a crucial save.
That result sets up a potentially pivotal encounter in terms of qualification from Group C this weekend, as El Tri aim to reach the knockout phase once again.
Now making their eighth consecutive World Cup appearance, the Mexicans have been eliminated at the last 16 stage in each of their last seven attempts, and ex-Argentina coach Martino is the man tasked with bringing a halt to that trend by defying expectation and making the quarter-finals.
La Seleccion last reached that point of the competition as hosts in 1986, when Saturday’s opponents went on to lift the trophy thanks to a Diego Maradona masterclass on Mexican soil.
Before this year’s squad can dream of emulating such a feat, though, they may well need to at least secure a second point in Lusail, or their hopes of progressing will be left hanging by a thread.
