Argentina’s World Championship Journey and 2023 Schedule

Argentina, now champions of the world, will start their post-World Cup journey in March with two friendly matches. The opener is set to take place at the famous Monumental stadium against Panama, while the second game awaits official confirmation and might move to an inland venue depending on logistics.

The year 2022 capped a historic era for the Albiceleste. They clinched the World Cup in Qatar, securing Argentina’s third star and ending a 36-year wait for a world title. The triumph followed a Copa América victory in 2021 that ended a 28-year drought on the continental stage. The celebrations were a cultural moment across the country, with millions taking to the streets and the optimism extending into 2023 as the team prepared to defend their title on home soil.

For the early 2023 calendar, the plan was straightforward: two home games on the first FIFA international window of the year, with venues to be solidified in the days ahead. The Monumental would likely host the first match, with the second potentially staged in a different province to broaden the impact of the world champions’ visit across the nation.

Regarding the opponents, the schedule held a clear outline, even as official confirmations were pending. On Thursday the 23rd, a date with Panama in Núñez was anticipated, followed by a late-March meeting against Suriname, possibly in a different provincial arena such as Córdoba. The roaming schedule reflected Argentina’s intent to bring world championship action to fans well beyond Buenos Aires.

La Scaloneta’s Path: From Criticism to Victory

Under the leadership of Lionel Scaloni, who began his tenure as an interim coach after the painful exit at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, Argentina moved quickly to secure a permanent role for him through strong early results. This marked the dawn of a new era, following the retirement of many members of what was once a runner-up generation at Brazil 2014.

The year 2019 featured several friendlies and a Copa América campaign that ended in a third-place finish. 2020 brought disruption due to the pandemic, with no competitive activity for ten months. Then 2021 arrived with a surge of joy. Argentina’s path was already being mapped toward a grand year in 2022, especially with World Cup qualification in hand and a clear plan to keep the momentum going with victories over Chile, Colombia, and Venezuela, while drawing with Ecuador in the qualifiers window.

June 1 brought another milestone: the Finalissima, a contest between the champions of the Copa América and the Eurocopa. Argentina beat Italy 3-0 at Wembley in a display of confidence and skill. In quick succession, they defeated Estonia 5-0 in a friendly, and then posted wins against Honduras and Jamaica in September, followed by the United Arab Emirates ahead of the World Cup. These results helped reinforce a narrative of resilience and high-level performance on multiple stages.

One match collapsed into history: the September 5, 2021 fixture against Brazil in Sao Paulo, where police attempted to arrest several Argentine players as part of ongoing COVID-19 protocols. After intense negotiations and various official decisions, the situation was not resolved on the field and the match was abandoned. Yet, the tournament itself began intact in Qatar, even as Argentina endured a rare setback on opening day, losing 2-1 to Saudi Arabia after 36 successive matches without defeat dating back to 2019. The team rebounded decisively, defeating Mexico and Poland in the group stage to secure advancement and top spot in the group.

In the knockout rounds, La Scaloneta faced a tough path that tested character. Argentina beat Australia 2-1 in a match that was tighter than expected, and in the quarterfinals they confronted the Netherlands, where a two-goal lead evaporated into a 2-2 draw and a penalty shootout. The semis brought a decisive 3-0 victory over Croatia, and the final delivered a dramatic 3-3 result at the end of extra time, followed by a heroic save from the goalkeeper and a triumphant 4-3 win on penalties against France. The title celebrated a generation’s culmination and a new era for Argentine football, marked by grit, unity, and a robust tactical approach under Scaloni.

Next up, a closer look at Argentina’s 2023 agenda:

THE AGENDA OF ARGENTINA IN 2023

March 2023: International friendlies

Thursday 23 March, Monumental Stadium | Argentina – Panama

Stadium to be confirmed between 26 and 28 March | Argentina – Suriname

THE AGENDA OF ARGENTINA IN 2022

January 2022: Qualifiers (dates 15 and 16)

Thursday, January 27, Zorros del Desierto Stadium, Calama | Chile 1-2 Argentina

Tuesday 1 February, Mario Kempes Stadium | Argentina 1-0 Colombia

March 2022: Qualifiers (dates 17 and 18)

Friday, March 25, 8:30 p.m., Alberto J. Armando Stadium | Argentina 3-0 Venezuela

Tuesday, March 29, 8:30 p.m., Guayaquil Monumental Stadium | Ecuador 1-1 Argentina

April 1, 2022: Qatar World Cup draw

June 2022: Euro-American finals

Wednesday 1 June, 3:45pm, Wembley Stadium, London | Argentina 3-0 Italy

Sunday, June 5, 4 p.m., El Sadar Stadium, Pamplona | Argentina 5-0 Estonia

September 2022: International friendlies

Friday, September 23, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami | Argentina 3-0 Honduras

Tuesday September 27, Red Bull Arena, New York | Argentina 3-0 Jamaica

November 2022: Friendly and World Cup

Wednesday November 16, Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi | Argentina 5-0 United Arab Emirates

November 21 to December 18: World Cup in Qatar 2022

Tuesday November 22, Lusail Stadium iconic| Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia

Saturday, November 26, 4 p.m., Lusail Iconic Stadium | Argentina 2-0 Mexico

Wednesday November 30, 4 p.m., Stadium 974 | Argentina 2-0 Poland

Saturday 3 December, 4 pm, Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium | Argentina 2-1 Australia

Friday, December 9, 4:00 PM, Lusail Iconic Stadium | Argentina 2-2 (4-3) Netherlands

Tuesday, December 13, 4:00 PM, Lusail Iconic Stadium | Argentina 3-0 Croatia

Sunday, December 18, 12 noon, Lusail Iconic Stadium | Argentina vs. France

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