World Cups and the Argentine economy: How we fared in years of the Copa del Mundo

As Argentina prepares for its 2026 World Cup debut, the nation's history intertwines sporting triumphs with economic turbulence. Over the last 40 years, the national team has consistently qualified for the tournament, securing two of its three titles and reaching two other finals, all while the country navigated significant economic ups and downs.

The 1986 World Cup, won under Carlos Salvador Bilardo with Diego Maradona as the star, marked Argentina's second title. This period, under President Raúl Alfonsín and Economy Minister Juan Sourrouille, saw the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grow by 6.2% and unemployment at 4.4%. However, inflation surged to 81.9%, largely influenced by the consolidation and eventual strain of the Plan Austral, launched in 1985 to curb hyperinflation.

Four years later, at the 1990 World Cup in Italy, Argentina, again led by Bilardo and Maradona, reached the final but lost 1-0 to West Germany. During President Carlos Menem's first term, with Antonio González as economy minister, the country faced a severe hyperinflationary crisis, with prices soaring by 1343.9%. The GDP contracted by 2.5%, and unemployment rose to 7.1%.

The 1994 World Cup in the United States was notable for Maradona's expulsion due to a doping violation and Argentina's exit in the Round of 16. Under Menem and Economy Minister Domingo Cavallo, Argentina experienced its fourth consecutive year of growth under the Convertibility Plan. Inflation was controlled, with the consumer price index reaching only 3.75% that year, but unemployment climbed to 11.8%.