Lionel Messi and Argentina are in a must-win situation when they face Poland in their final match in Group C. Messi is on a quest to win his first World Cup what looks certain to be his final appearance in the tournament, and a group-stage exit for one of the favourites would prove a massive upset.
Only a victory will guarantee the Albiceleste advance to the next round. A draw could work depending on the result between Mexico and Saudi Arabia, while a loss would see Argentina suffer a shock group stage elimination.
Poland are one point ahead of Argentina going into the final day and they have two results that will get them into the knockouts: a win or draw. They can even qualify with a loss if the tiebreakers go their way.
The match will see two stars go head-to-head in what could be the last World Cup appearance for one of them: The 35-year-old Messi matches up against 34-year-old Robert Lewandowski, who scored his first career World Cup goal against Saudi Arabia.
Sporting News is tracking live scoring updates and highlights for Argentina vs Poland at the 2022 World Cup. Follow below for complete results from the Group C match in Qatar.
MORE: World Cup scenarios for Group C | How to bet Argentina vs Poland
Argentina vs Poland live score
| 1H | 2H | Final | |
| Argentina | — | — | — |
| Poland | — | — | — |
Goals:
None
Projected lineups:
Argentina (4-3-3, right to left): 23. E. Martinez (GK) — 26-Molina, 13. Romero, 19. Otamendi, 8. Acuna — 7. De Paul, 5. Paredes, 20. Mac Allister — 10. Messi, 22. L. Martinez, 11. Di Maria
Poland (4-5-1, right to left): 1. Szczesny (GK) — 2. Cash, 14. Kiwior, 15. Glik, 8. Bereszynski — 19. Szymanski, 6. Bielik, 20. Zielinski, 10. Krychowiak, 13-Kaminski — 9. Lewandowski
MORE: Watch every World Cup match live with fuboTV (U.S.-only free trial)
| Team | PTS | GP | W | L | D | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Poland | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | +2 |
| 2. Argentina | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | +1 |
| 3. Saudi Arabia | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | -1 |
| 4. Mexico | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 |
Argentina vs Poland live updates, highlights from 2022 World Cup
1 hr 45 mins from kickoff: It’s all over in Group D, meaning Argentina and Poland have prospective opponents. If either side wins tonight, they will be on course to top Group C and face Australia in the last 16. The Socceroos stunned a much-fancied Denmark side to take second spot behind France. Despite being beaten 1-0 by Tunisia, Didier Deschamps’ side will take on the Group C runners-up.
2 hrs 15 mins from kickoff: Lionel Messi is poised to play his 22nd game at the World Cup, a new record for Argentina after matching Diego Maradona’s previous best mark with his match-winning turn last time out. Lothar Matthaus (25), Miroslav Klose (24) and Paolo Maldini (23) remain ahead of him. With a run to the final Messi could overhaul them all.
2 hrs 40 mins from kickoff: The opponents for Argentina and Poland, should they progress to the last 16, will come from Group D. France are more or less home and hosed as group winners, hence Didier Deschamps’ decision to make nine changes against Tunisia. Wahbi Khazri gave the North African side the lead against Les Bleus, to put them up to second place in the group. But then Mathew Leckie put Australia ahead against a much-fancied Denmark side. If things stay that way, the Socceroos will be the opponents for the Group C winners.
3 hrs 15 mins from kickoff: Enzo Fernandez impressed off the bench against Mexico and the Benfica sealed victory with a sublime goal. Will Lionel Scaloni be tempted to throw him in from the start?
🥹 Jubilation in the dressing room!
🎥: @Notamendi30 #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/qbmxGLogwA
— Sporting News Football Club (@sn_footballclub) November 26, 2022
3 hrs 45 mins from kickoff: Poland are top of the group on goal difference after a curious tournament so far. Lewandowski had a penalty saved in the opening 0-0 draw against Mexico, while they were outplayed for long periods but displayed a clinical edge before beating Saudi Arabia 2-0.
4 hrs 15 mins from kickoff: So here we are again with Lionel Messi, needing a result in the final group game to progress to the knockout stages. He was in a similar scenario in 2018, when chaos ensured. Find out more below in one of the chapters from our Messi & Ronaldo: Destination Mundial series.
MORE: Messi & Ronaldo: Destination Mundial | Part 10: Mutiny
4 hrs 45 mins from kickoff: Since the 2018 World Cup last-16 loss to France, Argentina have faced only three European sides. Germany (2-2 draw), Italy (3-0 win in Finalissima) and Estonia (5-0 in friendly).
Argentina have lost their last two FIFA World Cup games against European nations ❌
They’ve never lost three consecutive World Cup games against European sides before 😳
Next up… Poland 🇵🇱👀 pic.twitter.com/miPHC6LV2I
— LiveScore (@livescore) November 30, 2022
5 hrs from kickoff: If Argentina are going to pull off qualification to the round of 16, they’re going to be doing it dressed in purple:
Argentina to wear alternate purple kit vs. Poland at the World Cup. https://t.co/LC9jcqrF5C pic.twitter.com/jcxS7egR1I
— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) November 28, 2022
You’ve got to believe there’s someone on the team that’s aware of this:
The last time Argentina were eliminated in the group stage of a WC, they wore an alternate kit in their last game vs Sweden.
In the last 2 WC finals that Argentina played in, they lost wearing their alternate kit
Now, forced to beat Poland, Argentina will wear an alternate kit. pic.twitter.com/aQiVgrT5wN
— N∆HUEL 🇦🇷 ☆ 𓃵 (@RealGOA7) November 28, 2022
Argentina vs Poland lineups, team news
According to reports in Argentina, manager Lionel Scaloni is entertaining three lineup changes. Right-back Nahuel Molina, central defender Cristian Romero and midfielder Leandro Paredes were all dropped after the loss to Saudi Arabia but are poised to return to the first XI.
Enzo Fernandez starred and scored off the bench in the last match against Mexico, and the expectation is that Scaloni will use the midfielder in the same way.
Argentina (4-3-3, right to left): 23. E. Martinez (GK) — 26-Molina, 13. Romero, 19. Otamendi, 8. Acuna — 7. De Paul, 5. Paredes, 20. Mac Allister — 10. Messi, 22. L. Martinez, 11. Di Maria
Poland might go to a more conservative lineup against Argentina’s attacking firepower after lining up with two forwards in a 3-5-2 against Saudi Arabia. Feyenoord’s Sebastian Szymasnki and Wolfsburg’s Jakub Kaminski are expected to enter the picture.
Poland (4-5-1, right to left): 1. Szczesny (GK) — 2. Cash, 14. Kiwior, 15. Glik, 8. Bereszynski — 19. Szymanski, 6. Bielik, 20. Zielinski, 10. Krychowiak, 13-Kaminski — 9. Lewandowski
Argentina vs Poland live stream, TV channel
This final Group C match will be played at Stadium 974. Here’s how you can watch all the action in some of the major global territories.
| Date | Time | TV Channel | Streaming | |
| USA | Wed, Nov. 30 | 14:00 ET | Fox Universo |
fuboTV, Fox Sports site/app, Universo Now, Peacock |
| Canada | Wed, Nov. 30 | 14:00 ET | TSN , RDS 1 (French) | TSN site/app, RDS app |
| UK | Wed, Nov. 30 | 19:00 GMT | BBC One | BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website |
| Australia | Thu, Dec. 1 | 06:00 AEDT | SBS | SBS On Demand |
| India | Thu, Dec. 1 | 00:30 IST | Sports18 | Voot, JioTV |
| Hong Kong | Thu, Dec. 1 | 03:00 HKT | Now TV (Ch. 616, 618) | Now TV |
| Malaysia | Thu, Dec. 1 | 03:00 MYT | Astro Arena 2 | Astro GO |
| Singapore | Thu, Dec. 1 | 03:00 SGT | StarHub FIFA World Cup, Singtel FIFA World Cup 141 |
Singtel TV GO, CAST, StarHub TV+, MeWatch |
| New Zealand | Thu, Dec. 1 | 08:00 NZDT | Sky Sport 7 beIN Sports | Sky Go, Sky Sport NOW |
Watch the match on fuboTV in USA:
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