The World Cup curtain has already risen, and football’s powerhouses are ready to fight for the title. But the eyes of millions of fans across the subcontinent will be fixed most of all on arch-rivals Brazil and Argentina. Interest is also running high over a possible meeting between the two sides on the world stage.
Brazil will begin their World Cup campaign first. The Selecao’s opening match, against Morocco, will be held at 4 a.m. on Saturday. Argentina take the field on June 17, against Algeria. Both teams are among the title favorites at the tournament. The longer they stay in the competition, the greater the anticipation of a possible blockbuster.
The question is, could Brazil and Argentina meet at this World Cup?
According to the tournament draw, Argentina are in Group J and Brazil in Group C. If both top their respective groups and clear every hurdle in the knockout stage, they could meet in the semifinals. Similarly, if both advance as group runners-up and progress successfully, there is a chance they could meet in the last four. On the other hand, if one team finishes as group champion and the other as runner-up, their possible meeting could come in the final. But if both advance to the knockouts as third-placed teams, the stage of any possible clash would depend on the knockout draw.
Argentina have drawn comparatively easier opponents in the group stage. Lionel Scaloni’s side face Algeria, Austria and Jordan. Brazil, meanwhile, must play Morocco, Scotland and Haiti. Morocco in particular, who reached the semifinals at the last World Cup, will pose a tough early test for Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
In World Cup history, Brazil and Argentina have met four times so far. The most recent meeting was at the 1990 Italy World Cup. In that match, a goal by Claudio Caniggia from an exceptional Diego Maradona pass knocked Brazil out in the round of 16, with Argentina winning.
The two sides’ first World Cup meeting came in 1974. At the Germany World Cup that year, Brazil won the match 2-1. At the 1978 World Cup, held in Argentina, their contest ended in a goalless draw. Then at the 1982 Spain World Cup, Brazil won 3-1.
In the head-to-head statistics of World Cup meetings between the two rivals, Brazil lead. Of the four matches they have won two and Argentina one, with the other match drawn. Once again, football fans are waiting to see another Brazil-Argentina showdown on the World Cup stage.
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