Before the 2026 final, Argentina had won three FIFA World Cup titles. Its championships came in 1978, 1986, and 2022, making Argentina one of the most successful national teams in World Cup history.
Argentina’s first triumph came at home in 1978, when César Luis Menotti’s team defeated the Netherlands 3–1 after extra time in the final. The second arrived in Mexico in 1986, where Diego Maradona was the leading figure and Argentina beat West Germany 3–2 in the final.
The third title came in Qatar in 2022. Argentina defeated France on penalties after a 3–3 final, with Lionel Messi scoring twice during the match and then converting his penalty in the shootout. That victory ended Argentina’s 36-year wait between World Cup championships.
The wording “before the 2026 final” matters because it asks for the total entering the match, not the result afterward. Argentina’s three titles were also distinct from its runner-up finishes in 1930, 1990, and 2014. Brazil remained the record holder with five titles entering the 2026 tournament.