Javier Mascherano’s team started the tournament off on the right foot and have not struggled with the team’s positive start to the tournament.
Argentina picked up a win in their match against Uzbekistan and it meant a new positive start to the U20 World Cup. In the 17 editions in which the Albiceleste team took part, most of their first matches were with obtaining three points.
With goals from Alejo Veliz and Valentin Carboni, Javier Mascherano’s team was able to overcome the Asian team, which was able to create many complications in the first half.
Argentina got off to a good start, finishing top of Group A along with New Zealand. The Oceanic team added their first three points after defeating Guatemala 1–0 and left the Central American team without points along with the Uzbek team.
The victory also served to maintain the good start Argentina had enjoyed in the competition. With this win, the Albiceleste team accumulated 10 wins, 5 losses, 2 draws in the first matches played in the Under-20 World Cup.
Argentina’s last loss in their first match at the tournament was in 2019, when they lost 3–0 to England in their Group A opening, in an edition in which the Albiceleste team did not progress beyond the first round.
Furthermore, it set a positive precedent against Asian rivals. Wins against Indonesia, China, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan lead to four wins and one loss against these rivals in the competition. The only Asian team to beat Argentina on debut was Korea (a North–South team) in Portugal 1991.
Here’s how Argentina fared on their debut in the U20 World Cup:
Japan 1979: 5-0 win over Indonesia
Australia 1981: 2-1 loss to Australia
Mexico 1983: 5-0 win over China
Saudi Arabia 1989: 2-1 loss against Spain
Portugal 1991: 1-0 loss against Korea
Qatar 1995: 1-0 win over Netherlands
Malaysia 1997: Beat Hungary 3-0
Nigeria 1999: 1-0 win over Kazakhstan
Argentina 2001: 2–0 win over Finland
United Arab Emirates 2003: 2-1 win over Spain
Netherlands 2005: 1-0 loss to USA
Canada 2007: 0-0 draw with Czech Republic
Colombia 2011: 1-0 win over Mexico
New Zealand 2015: 2-2 draw with Panama
South Korea 2017: 3-0 loss to England
Poland 2019: 5-2 win over South Africa
Argentina 2023: 2-1 win over Uzbekistan
