BEST·THIRD·PLACE TRACKER An independent tracker for the 2026 World Cup.
FINAL UPDATE:
2026 · RUNNER-UP
Argentina
La AlbicelesteThe White and Sky Blue
RUNNER-UP
IN OUR BEST THIRDS RANKING
#2OUR RANK
21PTS
+11GD
19GF
Argentina finished as runner-up of the 2026 World Cup.

Argentina began their 2026 World Cup with a 3-0 win over Algeria, 27 places lower in the world ranking, then beat Austria 2-0 on matchday 2. A 3-1 victory over Jordan, 62 places lower in the world ranking, completed a perfect group stage. Nine points from three wins, a goal difference of 7 and 8 goals scored saw Argentina top Group J and march into the knockout rounds with their form fully intact.

Argentina's knockout run went the full distance. They edged past Cape Verde Islands, 66 places lower in the world ranking, 3-2 in extra time in the Round of 32, then beat Egypt, 28 places lower, 3-2 in the Round of 16. The quarter-finals required extra time again, Argentina coming through 3-1 against Switzerland, 18 places lower. A 2-1 semi-final win over England, 3 places lower, sent them to the final.

Argentina finished as runner-up at the 2026 World Cup, losing the final to Spain, 1 place lower in the world ranking, 0-1 after extra time.

THE RUN
All the way to the final.
Their full knockout run, start to finish.
Cape Verde IslandsR32 · WON 3-2
EgyptR16 · WON 3-2
SwitzerlandQF · WON 3-1
EnglandSF · WON 2-1
SpainF · LOST 0-1
🥈
RUNNERS-UP
Reached the final of the 2026 World Cup.

PER MATCH · INCL. GROUP STAGE

2.63PTS / match
2.38GF / match
−2.13FAIR / match

Across 8 matches (group stage included), Argentina has averaged 2.63 points and 2.38 goals scored per game, with 2.13 fair-play points lost per game.

PLAYED

Algeria
Austria
Jordan
Cape Verde Islands
Egypt
Switzerland
England
Spain
WHERE IT ALL STARTED
Won the group in the end. Argentina topped their group to qualify outright, so the best-thirds cut this tracker is built on did not settle where they finished.

How hard was Argentina’s road at this World Cup?

Every team’s road through the tournament, on one chart. Each line shows how hard each stage is. The base is the gap in FIFA world ranking between the two sides; on top of that, current form (each team’s last three matches, and how convincingly they were won against how strong an opponent) nudges the step: a hot opponent makes it taller, a team’s own hot form makes its own steps shorter. Higher means a tougher road. In the group stage the opponents are known, so each match sits at a fixed height; each knockout round shows the average difficulty across every opponent still left in that round. Argentina’s road is highlighted, along with every team it played. Hover or tap any team to compare, or pick one from the legend.

All teams