World Cup 2026 Statistics – Day 23 (July 3) – Round of 32
Argentina vs Cabo Verde 3-2
*Argentina are only the third defending champions to reach the World Cup Round of 16 in the XXI century, following Brazil in 2006 and France in 2022.
*Argentina have scored at least two goals in 10 consecutive matches for the first time in World Cup history.
This is a tournament’s record, followed by the 8-match ongoing streak of France.
*Argentina have won their last eight World Cup matches against African nations since losing to Cameroon in 1990 (0-1). This run includes also the wins:
2-1 vs Nigeria (1994)
1-0 vs Nigeria (2002)
2-1 vs Ivory Coast (2006)
1-0 vs Nigeria (2010)
3-2 vs Nigeria (2014)
2-1 vs Nigeria (2018)
3-0 vs Algeria (2026)
*Argentina hold the record for the most extra-time matches (12) played in World Cup history, tied with Germany.
*Argentina equaled their longest unbeaten run in the World Cup: 10 matches (the run started after the 1-2 loss to Saudi Arabia in 2022).
They previously went 10 games unbeaten between 2002 and 2010.
*Cabo Verde became the 4th debuting team in the history of the World Cup to score two goals against the reigning world champion in a single match, after:
Northern Ireland in 1958 (vs Germany)
Portugal in 1966 (vs Brazil)
Slovakia in 2010 (vs Italy)
*Cabo Verde are the 4th team in the history of the World Cup to score against two world champions (also vs Uruguay) during their debut tournament, after:
Denmark in 1986 (vs Germany and Uruguay)
Nigeria in 1994 (vs Argentina and Italy)
Senegal in 2002 (vs France and Uruguay)
*Cabo Verde’s Deroy Duarte became the first player from a Bulgarian league club (Ludogorets Razgrad) to score in a knockout stage match in the history of the World Cup.
*Cabo Verde’s Diney Borges became the second player in history to score an own goal during World Cup extra time, following Jimmy Dickinson (playing for England against Belgium on 17 June 1954).
*Argentina broke down Cape Verde’s resistance with extra-time goals from center-backs Lisandro Martínez and Cuti Romero.
It is the first time two Argentine defenders have scored in the same World Cup match.
*Lisandro Martínez is the first Argentina defender to record both a goal and an assist in a single knockout-stage match in the history of the World Cup.
*Argentina have scored twice in a World Cup extra-time period for the 2nd time in their history, after the 1978 final against the Netherlands (goals by Kempes and Bertoni that secured their first world title).
*Lionel Scaloni celebrated his 100th match as Argentina’s head coach.
His career began with a 3-0 victory over Guatemala on 8 September 2018.
His total record is 73 wins, 18 draws, and 9 losses.
*With 73% of wins with Argentina Scaloni achieved the 2nd highest win percentage among head coaches who reached the 100-match milestone with a national team, only behind Vicente Del Bosque’s 76% with Spain.
*It was Scaloni’s 8 win as a coach in World Cups (in 11 matches).
He equaled the national record of Carlos Bilardo: 8 wins in 14 matches.
César Luis Menotti is the third with 7 wins in 12 matches.