Repeating as World Cup champion is difficult. Argentina’s quest begins in KC
No matter the length of the game, shape of the field or size of the ball, there’s a universal sports truth: Repeating as champion is a difficult task.
It’s Argentina’s time to confront the odds.
As their FIFA World Cup opening game approaches against Algeria at Arrowhead Stadium, Argentina is much the same team that defeated France in the 2022 final in Qatar. Some 17 of the 26 players from that roster are part of this team. Argentina has experience. And confidence.
“We need to be humble enough to face these competitions,” said Argentina defender Nicola Otamendi on Monday at Arrowhead Stadium. “We’re giving our all because we know we’re the champions, and everyone will want to beat us.”
Also working for Argentina: They’ve stayed hot since 2022, winning Copa America in 2024. As FIFA’s top-ranked team, they’re one of the World Cup favorites.
Argentina has handled success well, spending more time as the world’s No. 1 ranked team than not over the past four years and not being ranked lower than third in that span.
And there’s Messi.
The transcendent talent could have gone out on top in 2022 after winning the Golden Ball as the best player in the World Cup for the second time. Instead, Messi pushed on and has become the most decorated player in soccer history. Another World Cup title could cement his status as the game’s all-time greatest player.
But history works against Argentina’s success. A championship repeat has happened twice in the first 22 World Cups, and not in more than five decades.
In 1962, Brazil won its second straight, having defeated Sweden in 1958, followed by Czechoslovakia. Those were the sixth and seventh World Cups.
The other instance happened in the second and third events. Italy defeated Czechoslovakia for the 1934 championship on home soil and in 1938 defeated Hungary.
Not only has a repeat champion not occurred since Brazil, only two reached the final with an opportunity to double up: After winning the 1986 World Cup, Argentina fell to West Germany in the 1990 final.
The Argentines denied France, winners in 2018, the repeat with the 2022 title.
Until France’s near-miss four years ago, defending champions had more crash-and-burn outcomes in their repeat quests. In the 21st century, four champions, including three straight, didn’t advance out of group play.
France in 2002, Italy in 2010, Spain in 2014 and Germany in 2018 arrived at the World Cup as the reigning champion and departed before the knockout round.
It’s a like a Super Bowl champion not making the playoffs the following year.
But the World Cup comes along every four years. Champions can grow older, challengers stronger. The same nations seem to have a stranglehold on global soccer power: Argentina, France, Spain, Brazil, Germany, England and Italy, among others. To win a World Cup is a remarkable achievement. To remain on top through two cycles is nearly impossible.
“Very difficult, very difficult for the last champion,” said Carlos Navarro Montoya, a former Colombian goalkeeper and now a broadcaster in Argentina.
If Argentina needs some addition motivation, it can gaze at the walls in the corridors at Arrowhead and see images of the current tenant, the Kansas City Chiefs. In 2022 and 2023, the Chiefs became the first NFL team to repeat as Super Bowl champions in two decades.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid isn’t planning on attending any World Cup games, but who doesn’t like to watch Messi, even in the twilight of his career at 38?
“He’s a fun one to watch now,” Reid said. “That joker can play. Nice to have him right here doing it, great for the fans to be able to see him do his thing. Special player.”
Bidding for the ultimate achievement: leading Argentina to consecutive World Cup trophies.