Argentina

Argentina national football team

WORLD RANKING: 8

GOVERNING BODY:-

Argentine Football Association (AFA)

CAPTAIN:-

Lionel Messi

COACH:-

Lionel Scaloni

MOST CAPPED PLAYER:-

Javier Mascherano (147 appearances)

TOP SCORER:-

Lionel Messi (71 goals)

HOME STADIUMS:-

Antonio V. Liberti, Buenos Aires

Alberto J. Armando, Buenos Aires

Malvinas Argentinas, Mendoza

Mario Alberto Kempes, Córdoba

Único Madre de Ciudades, Santiago del Estero

STAR PLAYERS:-

Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, Paolo Dybala, Angel di Maria, Lautaro Martinez, Angel Correa

NICKNAME:-

La Albiceleste (The White and Sky Blues)

RIVALS:-

Brazil

Uruguay

England

Germany

WORLD CUP:-

Appearances: 17

Best Result: Champions (1978, 1986)

COPA AMERICA:-

Appearances: 42

Best Result: Champions (1921, 1925, 1927, 1929, 1937, 1941, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1955, 1957, 1959, 1991, 1993)

 

The Argentina national football team represents Argentina in men’s international football and is administered by the Argentine Football Association, the governing body for football in Argentina.

Argentina’s home stadium is Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti in Buenos Aires.

La Selección (national team), also known as La Albiceleste, has appeared in five World Cup finals, including the first final in 1930, which they lost 4–2 to Uruguay.

Argentina won in their next final appearance in 1978, beating the Netherlands at extra time, 3–1. Argentina won again in 1986, through a 3–2 victory over West Germany, and a tournament campaign inspired by their captain Diego Maradona.

They made the World Cup finals once more in 1990 and lost 1–0 to West Germany following a controversial penalty call in the 87th minute.

Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, made their fifth appearance in a World Cup final in 2014, again losing to Germany, 1–0 during extra-time.

Argentina’s World Cup-winning managers are César Luis Menotti in 1978 and Carlos Bilardo in 1986.

Argentina has also been very successful in the Copa América, winning it 14 times, second only to Uruguay.

The team also won the 1992 FIFA Confederations Cup and the 1993 Artemio Franchi Trophy.

Argentina is known for having rivalries with Brazil, Uruguay, England, and Germany due to particular occurrences with one another throughout football history.

Football in Argentina

Football is the most popular sport in the Argentine Republic and part of the culture in the country.

It is the one with the most players (2,658,811 total, 331,811 of which are registered and 2,327,000 unregistered; with 3,377 clubs and 37,161 officials, all according to FIFA) and is the most popular recreational sport, played from childhood into old age.

The percentage of Argentines that declare allegiance to an Argentine football club is about 90%.

Football was introduced to Argentina in the latter half of the 19th century by the British immigrants in Buenos Aires.

The first Argentine league was contested in 1891, making it the fifth-oldest recognised league of a FIFA member (after England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Netherlands).

The Argentine Football Association (AFA) was formed in 1893 and is the eighth-oldest in the world.

The Argentina national team is one of the eight to have won the FIFA World Cup, having done so in 1978 and 1986, and also being runner-up in 1930, 1990 and 2014.

Argentina has also won the top continental tournament, the Copa América, 14 times, and the FIFA Confederations Cup in 1992.

The nation’s Olympic representative has won two Gold Medals (in 2004 and 2008), while the under-20 team has won a record six U-20 World Cups.

At the club level, Argentine teams have won the most Intercontinental Cups (9) and the most Copa Libertadores (25).

Women’s football has a national league since 1991, the Campeonato de Fútbol Femenino. In turn, the female national representative qualified for the World Cup for the first time in 2007 and won their first Campeonato Sudamericano Femenino (top continental competition) in 2006.

In futsal, Argentina were FIFUSA/AMF Futsal World Cup champions in 1994 and 2019. They also compete in the FIFA code of futsal, where they finished champions in 2016 and fourth place in 2004.

The team also won the FIFA Futsal Copa América in 2003 and 2015. Moreover, Argentina was world champion in futsal for the visually impaired in 2002 and 2006, and also won the Gold Medal at the IBSA World Blind Games 2015, a Silver Medal (2004) and two Bronze (2008 and 2016) in the Paralympic Games, three runner-up world championships (1998, 2000 and 2014), three championships of the Copa América (1999, 2005, 2017), three Silver Medals in the Parapan American Games (2007, 2011, 2015) and two runners-up of the Copa América (2009 and 2013).

Argentina also competes in the beach football World Cup, where their best finish was third in 2001.

Argentine football league system

The Argentine football league system includes tournaments organised by the Argentine Football Association.

Clubs affiliated to the body compete in the tournaments, which are split into categories or divisions.

Rules establish a system of promotion and relegation, a process where teams are transferred between two divisions based on their performance for the completed season.

The best-ranked team or teams in the lower division are promoted to the higher division for the next season, and the worst-ranked team or teams in the higher division are relegated to the lower division for the next season.

Below the second division championship (Primera Nacional), tournaments leagues are split between two groups, the first of them include the promotion/relegation system for clubs directly affiliated to AFA playing in Primera B, Primera C and Primera D.

Those are usually called “zona metropolitana” (metropolitan zone) due to those tournaments have been historically played by teams from the city of Buenos Aires and Greater Buenos Aires, plus the addition of twenty clubs from the cities of Rosario, Santa Fe, La Plata, Zarate, Campana, Luján, Junín, General Rodríguez, Cañuelas and Pilar.

The second group is formed for clubs indirectly affiliated to AFA that play in regional leagues, under the supervision of Consejo Federal (es), dependent on the AFA.

Competitions reserved for those clubs are Torneo Federal A and Torneo Regional Federal (es).

Level 1 – Liga Profesional

Argentine Primera División

The Primera División, named Liga Profesional de Fútbol since 2020, is a professional football league in Argentina, organised by the Argentine Football Association (AFA).

The Primera División is the country’s premier football division and is the top division of the Argentine football league system.

It operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Primera Nacional (Second Division), with the teams placed lowest at the end of the season being relegated.

With the first championship held in 1891, Argentina became the first country outside the United Kingdom (where the Football League had debuted in 1888, and the Scottish and Irish Football Leagues in 1890) to establish a football league.

In the early years, only teams from Buenos Aires, Greater Buenos Aires, La Plata and Rosario were affiliated with the national association. Teams from other cities would join in later years.

The Primera División turned professional in 1931 when 18 clubs broke away from the amateur leagues to form a professional one. Since then, the season has been contested annually in four different formats and calendars.

Level 2 – Primera Nacional

Primera Nacional (usually called simply Nacional B, and known as Primera B Nacional until the 2019–20 season) is the second division of the Argentine football league system.

The competition is made up of 32 teams, divided into two zones.

It is played by teams from all over the country.

Clubs from Buenos Aires surroundings, as well as some from Santa Fe Province, are promoted from or relegated to the Primera B Metropolitana (“Metropolitan B Division”) while for teams from the other provinces the Torneo Federal A (“Federal A Tournament”) is the next level down.

In Argentine football, Nacional B is the second-highest league, and from it, the three best teams are automatically promoted to Primera División.

Level 3 – Primera B & Torneo Federal A

Primera B Metropolitana

Primera B Metropolitana is one of two professional leagues that form the third level of the Argentine football league system. The division is made up of 17 clubs mainly from the city of Buenos Aires and its metropolitan area, Greater Buenos Aires.

Originally created as the second division, it became the third level after a restructuring of the system in 1985 that ended with the creation of Primera B Nacional, set as the second division since then.

The other league at level three is the Torneo Federal A, where teams from regional leagues take part.

Torneo Federal A

The Torneo Federal A (in English “Federal A Tournament”) is one of the two professional leagues that form the regionalised third level of the Argentine football league system, along with Primera B Metropolitana.

The competition was established in 2014 as a result of a change in the structure of the league system, replacing Torneo Argentino A.

Federal A is organised by “Consejo Federal”, a division of the Argentine Football Association.

Clubs in Federal A have indirect membership in AFA unlike clubs in Primera B, which have direct membership.

All teams with indirect membership are from outside the city of Buenos Aires (playing in regional leagues) and its metropolitan area (Greater Buenos Aires), while most of the direct members are from the aforementioned area.

Level 4 – Primera C & Torneo Regional Federal (es)

Primera C Metropolitana

The Primera C Metropolitana is one of the two professional leagues that form the fourth level of the Argentine football league system.

Primera C Metropolitana is made up of 20 clubs mainly from the city of Buenos Aires and its metropolitan area (Greater Buenos Aires).

The other league at level four is the Torneo Federal B, where teams from regional leagues take part.

Torneo Regional Federal Amateur

The Federal Amateur Regional Tournament, also known as the Amateur Regional Tournament or Regional Tournament, 2, is a championship, corresponding to the fourth category of Argentine soccer, organized by the Federal Council, an internal organ of the Argentine Soccer Association that groups together the clubs. indirectly affiliated with it, who come from the regional leagues.

It is a merger of the Federal B and Federal C tournaments.

The winning teams of the championships of their respective leagues take part in the tournament, in addition to the descendants of the previous edition of the Federal Tournament A, those that follow them in sporting merit.

These teams can be one or two, depending on the number of participants in each league.

Added to them, from the second edition, a team for each league federation, and other teams from the clubs that obtain the right to participate through the granting of sports licenses.

Level 5 – Primera D & Regional Leagues

Primera D Metropolitana

The Primera D Metropolitana is one of two leagues that form the fifth division of the Argentine football league system.

Made up of 16 clubs from the city of Buenos Aires and its metropolitan area (Greater Buenos Aires), the league is the only one that remains amateur.

The other league at level five is the Torneo Federal C, where teams from regional leagues take part.

Regional Leagues

The following is a list of regional football leagues in Argentina sorted by province.

Buenos Aires

Liga Albertina de fútbol
Liga Alvearense de fútbol (Buenos Aires)
Liga Amateur de Deportes (Lincoln)
Liga Amateur Platense de fútbol
Liga Ameghinese de fútbol
Liga Ayacuchense de fútbol
Liga Balcarceña de fútbol
Liga Bragadense de fútbol
Liga Campanense de fútbol
Liga Carhuense de fútbol
Liga Casarense de fútbol
Liga Chascomunense de fútbol
Liga Chivilcoyana de fútbol
Liga Cultural Deportiva (Tres Lomas)
Liga de fútbol (Roque Pérez)
Liga de fútbol de Arrecifes
Liga de fútbol de Azul
Liga de fútbol de Baradero
Liga de fútbol de Coronel Dorrego
Liga de fútbol de General Alvarado
Liga de fútbol de General Villegas
Liga de fútbol de Las Flores
Liga de fútbol de Mar Chiquita
Liga de fútbol de Olavarría
Liga de fútbol de Salto
Liga de fútbol de Villarino
Liga de fútbol del Oeste (América/Rivadavia)
Liga de fútbol del Partido de la Costa
Liga de fútbol Las Sierras
Liga de fútbol Pergamino
Liga del Sur (Bahía Blanca)
Liga Deportiva Carmen de Areco
Liga Deportiva Central (Leandro N. Alem)
Liga Deportiva de Bolívar
Liga Deportiva de Cañuelas
Liga Deportiva de Chacabuco
Liga Deportiva de Colón
Liga Deportiva de fútbol (Rojas)
Liga Deportiva de General Arenales
Liga Deportiva de Saladillo
Liga Deportiva de San Antonio de Areco
Liga Deportiva del Oeste (Junín)
Liga Deportiva del Sur
Liga Deportiva Puanense
Liga Deportiva Sampedrina
Liga Dolorense de fútbol (Buenos Aires)
Liga Escobarense de Fútbol
Liga Guaminense de fútbol
Liga Juarense de fútbol
Liga Lapridense de fútbol
Liga Lobense de fútbol
Liga Loberense de fútbol
Liga Lujanense de fútbol
Liga Madariaguense de fútbol
Liga Maipuense de fútbol
Liga Marplatense de fútbol
Liga Mercedina de fútbol
Liga Montense de fútbol
Liga Necochense de fútbol
Liga Nicoleña de fútbol
Liga Nuevejuliense de fútbol
Liga Pehuajense de fútbol
Liga Pringles de fútbol
Liga Rauchense de fútbol
Liga Regional de fútbol (Coronel Suárez)
Liga Regional Tresarroyense de fútbol
Liga Tandilense de fútbol
Liga Toldense de fútbol
Liga Trenquelauquense de fútbol
Liga Veinticinqueña de fútbol
Liga Zarateña de fútbol

Catamarca

Liga Andalgalense de fútbol
Liga Belenista de fútbol
Liga Catamarqueña de fútbol
Liga Chacarera de fútbol (Valle Viejo)
Liga Departamental de fútbol de Pomán
Liga Departamental de fútbol de Recreo
Liga Fiambalense de fútbol
Liga Santamariana de fútbol
Liga Tinogasteña de fútbol

Chaco

Asociación de fútbol del Oeste Chaqueño (Villa Ángela)
Liga Chaqueña de fútbol
Liga de fútbol del Noroeste Chaqueño (Las Breñas)
Liga de fútbol del Norte (General José de San Martín)
Liga Deportiva y Cultural Las Palmas
Liga Quitilipense de fútbol
Liga Regional de fútbol (Machagai)
Liga Saenzpeñense de fútbol

Chubut

Liga de fútbol de Comodoro Rivadavia
Liga de fútbol del Oeste del Chubut (Esquel)
Liga de fútbol Valle del Chubut (Trelew)

Córdoba

Liga Bellvillense de fútbol
Liga Cordobesa de fútbol
Liga Cruzdelejeña de fútbol
Liga de fútbol del Departamento General Roca
Liga Departamental de fútbol de Punilla
Liga Departamental Santa María
Liga Dolorense de fútbol (Córdoba)
Liga Independiente de Fútbol (Oncativo)
Liga Ischilín de fútbol
Liga Regional de Colón
Liga Regional de fútbol de Canals
Liga Regional de fútbol de Laboulaye
Liga Regional de fútbol de Río Cuarto
Liga Regional de fútbol de San Francisco
Liga Regional de fútbol del Sur (Corral de Bustos)
Liga Regional de fútbol Dr. Adrián Beccar Varela
Liga Regional de fútbol San Alberto
Liga Regional Riotercerense de fútbol
Liga Villamariense de fútbol

Corrientes

Liga Bellavistense de fútbol
Liga Correntina de fútbol
Liga de fútbol General Belgrano
Liga Deportiva Casereña General San Martín
Liga Esquinense de fútbol
Liga Goyana de fútbol
Liga Ituzaingueña de fútbol
Liga Libreña de fútbol
Liga Mercedeña de fútbol
Liga Santomeña de fútbol
Liga Virasoreña de fútbol

Entre Ríos

Liga Concordiense de fútbol
Liga de fútbol de Chajarí
Liga de fútbol de Concepción del Uruguay
Liga de fútbol de Paraná Campaña
Liga Departamental de fútbol (Rosario del Tala)
Liga Departamental de fútbol de Colón
Liga Departamental de fútbol de Gualeguay
Liga Departamental de fútbol de Gualeguaychú
Liga Departamental de fútbol de Nogoyá
Liga Diamantina de fútbol
Liga Federalense de fútbol
Liga Felicianense de fútbol
Liga Paceña de fútbol
Liga Paranaense de fútbol
Liga Regional de fútbol
Liga Santaelenense de fútbol
Liga Victoriense de fútbol
Liga Villaguayense de fútbol
Liga Zonal de fútbol (Caseros)

Formosa

Liga Clorindense de fútbol
Liga de fútbol de Laguna Blanca
Liga de fútbol del Centro (Ibarreta)
Liga de fútbol del Sur (El Colorado)
Liga Formoseña de fútbol
Liga Piranense de fútbol

Jujuy

Liga Departamental de fútbol del Carmen
Liga Jujeña de Fútbol
Liga Regional Jujeña de fútbol (Libertador Gral. San Martín)

La Pampa

Liga Cultural de fútbol
Liga Pampeana de fútbol (General Pico)

La Rioja

Liga Aimogasteña de fútbol
Liga Chileciteña de fútbol
Liga Cultural y Deportiva Los Llanos
Liga de fútbol del Sur Riojano
Liga Riojana de fútbol

Mendoza

Liga Alvearense de fútbol (Mendoza)
Liga de fútbol de Tunuyán
Liga Malargüina de fútbol
Liga Mendocina de fútbol
Liga Rivadaviense de fútbol
Liga Sancarlina de fútbol
Liga Sanrafaelina de fútbol
Liga Tupungatina de fútbol

Misiones

Liga Apostoleña de fútbol
Liga de fútbol de Eldorado
Liga Posadeña de fútbol
Liga Regional de fútbol de Iguazú
Liga Regional de fútbol de Puerto Rico
Liga Regional Obereña de fútbol

Neuquén

Liga de fútbol del Neuquén

Río Negro
Liga de fútbol de Bariloche
Liga de fútbol de Río Colorado
Liga Deportiva Confluencia
Liga Regional Atlántica de fútbol
Liga Regional de fútbol Avellaneda
Liga Rionegrina de fútbol

Salta

Liga Anteña de fútbol
Liga Calchaquí de fútbol
Liga de fútbol de Rosario de la Frontera
Liga de fútbol de Vespucio
Liga Regional de fútbol del Bermejo
Liga de fútbol del Valle de Lerma
Liga Departamental de fútbol Gral. San Martín
Liga Güemense de fútbol
Liga Metanense de fútbol
Liga Salteña de fútbol

San Juan

Liga Calingasteña de fútbol
Liga Caucetera de fútbol
Liga de fútbol de Albardón Angaco
Liga Iglesiana de fútbol
Liga Jachallera de fútbol
Liga Sanjuanina de fútbol
Liga Sarmientina de fútbol
Liga Veinticinqueña de fútbol

San Luis

Liga Daractense de fútbol
Liga de fútbol de Mercedes
Liga de fútbol del Norte Puntano
Liga Sanluiseña de fútbol
Liga Valle del Conlara

Santa Cruz

Liga de fútbol Centro (Com.L.Piedra Buena)
Liga de fútbol Sur (Río Gallegos)
Liga de fútbol Norte de Santa Cruz

Santa Fe

Asociación Rosarina de Fútbol
Liga Cañadense de fútbol
Liga Casildense de fútbol
Liga Ceresina de fútbol
Liga Esperancina de fútbol
Liga de fútbol Regional del Sud (Villa Constitución)
Liga Departamental de fútbol San Martín
Liga Deportiva del Sur (Alcorta)
Liga Galvense de fútbol
Liga Interprovincial de fútbol (Chañar Ladeado)
Liga Ocampense de fútbol
Liga Rafaelina de fútbol
Liga Reconquistense fútbol
Liga Regional Sanlorencina de fútbol
Liga Regional Totorense de fútbol
Liga Sancristobalense de fútbol
Liga Santafesina de Fútbol
Liga Venadense de fútbol
Liga Verense de fútbol

Santiago del Estero

Liga Añatuyense de fútbol
Liga Cultural de fútbol de Frías
Liga Santiagueña de Fútbol
Liga Termense de fútbol

Tierra del Fuego, Antártida e Islas del Atlántico Sur

Liga Oficial de fútbol Río Grande
Liga Ushuaiense de Fútbol

Tucumán
Liga Tucumana de Fútbol