27 Mar
Fri
•9:00pm
Lusail Stadium • Doha
16 Jun
Tue
•8:00pm
Arrowhead Stadium • Kansas City
22 Jun
Mon
•12:00pm
AT&T Stadium • Arlington
27 Jun
Sat
•9:00pm
AT&T Stadium • Arlington
22 Dec
Mon
•6:00pm
Marrakech Stadium • Ouahat Sidi Brahim
26 Dec
Fri
•4:00pm
Adrar Stadium • Agadir
30 Dec
Tue
•12:30am
Marrakech Stadium • Ouahat Sidi Brahim
11 Jun
Thu
•1:00pm
Estadio Azteca • Mexico City
18 Jun
Thu
•12:00pm
Mercedes-Benz Stadium • Atlanta
Lionel Messi leads the reigning world champions on their road to the 2026 World Cup, backed by a possession-based style of play built on quick interchanges, constant movement and the patience to dismantle defenses right on the edge of the opposition box.
On the other side, South Africa promise a high-intensity battle, with powerful physical play, compact lines and lightning-fast breaks every time they win the ball back. It’s the clash between Argentina’s trademark flair and the electric tempo of Bafana Bafana, who so far have only faced the Albiceleste in friendlies and never at a World Cup – meaning every 50–50 ball writes a brand-new chapter. In a group stage where a single point can mean the difference between going through or going home early, this Argentina–South Africa showdown is all or nothing from the very first minute.
Argentina arrive with the pedigree of their titles in 1978, 1986 and 2022 and a championship core built around Lionel Messi, supported by forwards like Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez.
The South African team head to the tournament with the experience gained from their previous World Cup appearances and the memory of their historic triumph at the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations, bolstered by a valuable third place on the continent in 2023. Ronwen Williams marshals the team from goal, while Percy Tau and Teboho Mokoena bring creativity and long-range threat from midfield. Don’t settle for watching the highlights: secure your tickets now and experience this Argentina–South Africa World Cup clash live from the stands.