Argentina vs South Korea: World Cup head-to-head record
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Argentina have a perfect World Cup record against South Korea, winning both of their all-time meetings without conceding more than one goal in either fixture. Across two clashes — in 1986 and 2010 — Argentina scored seven goals and conceded just two, demonstrating consistent dominance over the Asian side on football's biggest stage.
South Korea have never beaten Argentina at a World Cup, and the two nations have never drawn. Argentina's superiority is clear: a 100% win rate, a combined scoreline of 7–2, and victories spread across two different tournament eras.
Full World Cup head-to-head record: Argentina vs South Korea
The two nations have met twice at the FIFA World Cup, both times in the group stage. The table below covers every meeting:
| Year | Stage | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Group Stage – Matchday 1 | Argentina 3–1 South Korea |
| 2010 | Group Stage – Matchday 7 | Argentina 4–1 South Korea |
What the results tell us
Argentina's 3–1 win in 1986 came in Mexico on the opening matchday of their group, setting the tone for a tournament run that ended in World Cup glory — Diego Maradona's famous triumph. South Korea were making just their second World Cup appearance and were outclassed from the start. Twenty-four years later in South Africa, Argentina were even more ruthless, putting four past South Korea in a commanding group-stage victory that underlined their status as one of the tournament's elite nations. Lionel Messi was among the key figures in the 2010 side, though Argentina's own tournament ended in the quarter-finals that year.
If Argentina and South Korea meet at the 2026 World Cup, history heavily favours the South Americans. Fans looking to follow the draw, track live scores, or build a bracket can head to Bola 2026 for the latest on all 2026 tournament fixtures.
Frequently asked questions
How many times have Argentina and South Korea played at the World Cup?
Argentina and South Korea have met exactly twice at the World Cup — in 1986 and in 2010 — both times in the group stage. Argentina won on both occasions.
What was the score when Argentina beat South Korea at the 2010 World Cup?
Argentina beat South Korea 4–1 at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. It was a group-stage match on Matchday 7 of the tournament and one of Argentina's most convincing victories of that year's group stage.
Has South Korea ever beaten Argentina at the World Cup?
No. South Korea have never beaten Argentina at a FIFA World Cup. In their two meetings (1986 and 2010), South Korea lost both times, conceding a combined seven goals while scoring just two.