Argentina began their World Cup 2026 campaign with a convincing 2-0 victory over Austria at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires. Goals from Lautaro Martinez and Paulo Dybala in the first half sealed the win for the reigning champions, who dominated possession and created numerous chances throughout the match.
First-Half Dominance
The home side took control from the kickoff, with Lionel Messi orchestrating play from midfield. In the 23rd minute, Martinez opened the scoring with a clinical finish after a precise through ball from Rodrigo De Paul. Austria struggled to contain Argentina's attacking trio, and Dybala doubled the lead just before halftime with a curling shot from outside the box.
Austria's Resilience
Austria showed improvement after the break, with Marko Arnautović testing Argentina's goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez on two occasions. However, the Argentine defense, led by Nicolás Otamendi, remained solid, denying any clear-cut opportunities. Austria's best chance came in the 67th minute when a header from David Alaba was cleared off the line by Nahuel Molina.
Key Statistics and Impact
According to official match data, Argentina had 62% possession and registered 15 shots on goal, compared to Austria's 8. The victory puts Argentina top of Group D, level on points with the Netherlands, who earlier beat Saudi Arabia 3-1. Argentina's next match is against Saudi Arabia, while Austria will face the Netherlands.
"We knew it would be a tough match, but the team executed the game plan perfectly," said Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni in a post-match interview. "We created chances and defended well when needed. This is just the start, and we must keep improving."
Looking Ahead
With this win, Argentina extends their unbeaten run in World Cup group stages to 10 matches. Austria, meanwhile, will need to regroup quickly to keep their knockout stage hopes alive. The tournament continues with more group matches scheduled across the country.
