Argentina vs. Saudi Arabia live: World Cup score, highlights, result from 2022 Group C match

By | November 22, 2022
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Argentina kick off their highly anticipated 2022 World Cup campaign against Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, November 22. 

With captain and superstar Lionel Messi appearing at the tournament for a final time, Argentina are hoping to send their icon out with a piece of silverware that has so far eluded him. 

Saudi Arabia will be keen to cause an early upset in Qatar but face a South American side closing in on the world record for the longest unbeaten run. 

While a draw would suit Saudi Arabia just fine, only a win will do for Argentina in this match as they look to start their World Cup quest on the right foot. 

The Sporting News is tracking live scoring updates and highlights for Argentina vs. Saudi Arabia at the 2022 World Cup. Follow below for complete results from the Group C match in Qatar.

MORE: Argentina vs. Saudi Arabia prediction, odds, betting tips and best bets

Argentina vs. Saudi Arabia score

  1H 2H Final
Argentina — — —
Saudi Arabia — — —

Goals:
None

Confirmed lineups:

Argentina (4-3-3, right to left): 23. E. Martinez (GK) — 26. Molina, 13. Romero, 19. Otamendi, 3. Tagliafico — 7. De Paul, 5. Paredes, 17. Gomez — 10. Messi, 22. Martinez, 11. Di Maria

Saudi Arabia (4-3-3, right to left): 21. Al-Owais (GK) — 12. Abdulhamid, 17. Tambakti, 5. Al-Boleahi, 13. Al-Shahrani — 9. Al-Buraikan 23. Kanno, 8. Al-Malki, 7. Al-Faraj, 10. Al-Dawsari — 11. Al-Shehri

MORE: Watch every World Cup match live with fuboTV (U.S.-only free trial)

Argentina vs. Saudi Arabia live updates, highlights from 2022 World Cup

1st min: And we’re off. 

1 mins from kickoff: The captains, Lionel Messi and Salman Al-Faraj, are shaking hands in the centre circle. We’ll be underway very shortly… 

5 mins from kickoff: It’s anthems time. Argentina first…

7 mins from kickoff: If Argentina avoid defeat today. they will equal Italy’s record for the longest unbeaten streak in the international football. 

MORE: What is longest unbeaten run in international football? 

10 mins from kickoff: Saudi Arabia have only progressed from the group stage once in six previous World Cup final appearances, in 1994. But the Green Falcons, coached by charismatic Frenchman Herve Renard, enjoyed a relatively comfortable qualification for Qatar, topping a final group with Japan and Australia.

All their players are based in the Saudi domestic league, including 12 from Al-Hilal, the Riyadh outfit who have won the last three titles and five of the last six.

20 mins from kickoff: They may be on a 36-match unbeaten run stretching back to 2019 – Brazil were the last team to defeat them – but Argentina have actually lost four of their last five matches at the World Cup, including their painful loss to Germany in the 2014 final.

30 mins to kickoff: This is the first of six group matches at the 80,000-capacity Lusail Iconic Stadium, which will also hots one round-of-16 match, one quarterfinal and one semifinal.  The stadium’s spectacular design and golden exterior has been “inspired by the interplay of light and shadow that characterises the ‘fanar’ lantern.” So now you know.     

45 mins to kickoff: Here is the Albiceleste lineup. Nicolas Tagliafico starts in defence and Alejandro Gomez in midfield, with Lautaro Martinez and Angel Di Maria joining Lionel Messi up front. That forward line has 136 international goals between them by the way, with Messi owning 90 of them. 

Argentina (4-3-3, right to left): 23. E. Martinez (GK) — 26. Molina, 13. Romero, 19. Otamendi, 3. Tagliafico — 7. De Paul, 5. Paredes, 17. Gomez — 10. Messi, 22. Martinez, 11. Di Maria

1 hr to kickoff: We’re still awaiting the Argentina team, but I can confirm that Messi is in the house…

1hr 15 mins to kickoff: Saudi Arabia’s team is out: 

1hr 30 mins to kickoff: Someone’s got a fancy pair of boots for his fifth World Cup.

2hrs to kickoff: The lineups for this Group C match will be announced in just under an hour! How will Argentina’s injuries affect who lines up beside Lionel Messi? How will Herve Renard set up his Saudi Arabia side ahead of their toughest match of the group?

These questions will be answered soon…

2hrs 30mins to kickoff: Football has religious status in Argentina, and these crowd figures sure prove it!

Bleacher Report states that besides the final, three of the four games with the most requests for tickets involved Argentina! Everyone wants one last chance to see Lionel Messi on the world stage.

3hrs to kickoff: Lionel Messi is the leading goalscorer for the Argentinian national team, as well as the player with the most caps. But how many of those goals have been at the World Cup?

Take a look at this article to find out Messi’s World Cup goalscoring record and videos of each goal.

3hrs 30mins to kickoff: Argentina’s official Twitter page shared a photo of the record between the two sides in previous fixtures. The sides have met four times in history, with Argentina winning twice and two draws.

Does that give Saudi Arabia hope ahead of this match?

4 hrs from kickoff: Did you know that Lionel Messi is set to equal a record when he steps onto the pitch in Qatar today? He is set to join a small group of players who have played at five World Cups! Take a look at the other players who have achieved that record.

4hrs from kickoff: Want to know what time this match is kicking off all around the world? Look no further than here, where The Sporting News has the kickoff times for this match in every corner of the globe!

5 hrs from kickoff: Hello and welcome to The Sporting News‘ live coverage of Argentina vs. Saudi Arabia. All eyes will be on Messi in this match as his side look to start the tournament strongly and continue their fine form over the past 18 months. 

Argentina vs. Saudi Arabia lineups, team news

While superstar Lionel Messi has declared he’s in top condition, Argentina entered this match with Cristian Romero, Marcos Acuna and Papu Gomez all under injury clouds. 

Cristian Romero has been passed fit and joins Nicolas Otamendi in central defence, but Acuna is missing so Nicolas Tagliafico stands in at left-back.

Argentina confirmed lineup (4-3-3, right to left): 23. E. Martinez (GK) — 26. Molina, 13. Romero, 19. Otamendi, 3. Tagliafico — 7. De Paul, 5. Paredes, 17. Gomez — 10. Messi, 22. Martinez, 11. Di Maria

Saudi Arabia have arrived in Qatar with a fully-fit squad and have no real selection headaches ahead of this match. 

Saleh Al-Shehri returned from an Achilles tear in October and is ready to star for his side in front of goal. 

Saudi Arabia will likely favour a more defensive formation in this game as they try to stop Argentina’s star-studded attack. 

Saudi Arabia confirmed lineup (4-3-3, right to left): 21. Alowais (GK) — 12. Abdulhamid, 17. Altambakti, 5.Albulayhi, 13. Alshahrani —  23. Kanno, 8. Almalki, 7. Alfaraj — 9. Albrikan, 11. Alshehri, 10. Aldawsari

Argentina vs. Saudi Arabia live stream, TV channel

Here’s how you can watch all the action in the major global territories.

  Date Time TV Channel Streaming
USA Tuesday, Nov. 22 05:00 ET FS1, Telemundo fuboTV, Fox Sports site/app,
Telemundo Deportes site/app, Peacock
Canada Tuesday, Nov. 22 05:00 EST TSN, RDS (French) TSN site/app
UK Tuesday, Nov. 22 10:00 GMT ITV 1, STV (Scotland) ITV Hub / ITVX, STV Player (Scotland)
Australia Tuesday, Nov. 22 21:00 AEDT SBS SBS On Demand
India Tuesday, Nov. 22 15:30 IST Sports18 Voot, JioTV
Hong Kong Tuesday, Nov. 22 18:00 HKT Now TV (Ch. 616, 618) Now TV
Malaysia Tuesday, Nov. 22 18:00 MYT Astro, Unifi, TV2, TV Okey Astro GO, RTMKlik
Singapore Tuesday, Nov. 22 18:00 SGT StarHub (Ch. 251/252),
Singtel TV		 MeWatch, Singtel TV GO,
CAST, StarHub TV+
New Zealand Tuesday, Nov. 22 23:00 NZDT Sky Sport 7 beIN Sports Sky Go, Sky Sport NOW

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