Defending champions Argentina begin the knockout phase of their FIFA World Cup title defense on Friday when they meet tournament debutants Cape Verde in the round of 32 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, where Lionel Scaloni's unbeaten side will look to continue its dominant run against a Blue Sharks team that has already proven it can frustrate the world's elite.
Argentina have looked every bit the pre-tournament favorites through the group stage, joining co-host Mexico and France as the only teams to win all three of their matches. The Albiceleste have combined attacking efficiency with defensive control, extending a remarkable run that has turned them into one of international football's modern powerhouses.
The last time Argentina lost a knockout match in any major tournament was seven years ago, when Brazil claimed a 2-0 victory in the 2019 Copa America semifinals in Belo Horizonte. Since then, Scaloni has transformed the national team into a serial winner, guiding Argentina to Copa America titles in 2021 and 2023 before ending a 36-year World Cup drought with the unforgettable triumph in Qatar in 2022.
That winning mentality has carried into North America, where Argentina have stretched their overall knockout winning streak to 10 matches while continuing an equally impressive 10-game winning run across the World Cup and Copa America.
