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Argentina vs Venezuela fixtures have grown into tales of South America’s football contrasts.
Their encounters have featured multiple Copa America battles and crucial World Cup qualifiers.
From Venezuela’s shock win in 2011 to Argentina’s dominance, this matchup showcases passion and evolving football stories.
Argentina’s 3-0 victory on September 5, 2025, capped by Lionel Messi‘s brace, added another chapter to this enduring matchup.
With Messi’s legacy in the spotlight, fans will continue to watch these duels with intensity.
Visit our FIFA World Cup 2026 website to learn how to obtain your tickets and the latest fixtures.
Argentina vs Venezuela head-to-head history
| Total | Argentina wins | Venezuela wins | Draws | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Matches | 15 | 10 | 2 | 3 |
| Total Score | 45 | 34 | 11 | |
| Home Stadium | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| Away Stadium | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 |
| INT Friendlies | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL) | 9 | 5 | 1 | 3 |
| CONMEBOL Copa America | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| INT CF | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Qualifier | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Source: | AiScore.com |
Argentina vs Venezuela: How the intense battles started
The Argentina vs. Venezuela matchups began in 1956, when the two nations met for the first time in a friendly match.
From the outset, the disparity in football pedigree was evident.
Despite the uneven results, these early matches laid the foundation for what could be a competitive duel.
The gap may be wide, but the seeds of determination were sown, giving Venezuela reasons to improve.
From those humble beginnings, the matchup progressed to major competitions, where Venezuela sought to narrow the gap.
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When Venezuela vs Argentina heated up at Copa America
The Copa America has been the stage for some to feature the Venezuela national football team vs Argentina national football team lineups.
Their first Copa América meeting took place in 1967, a match Argentina won 5-1.
In 2007, when Venezuela hosted the Copa America for the first time, their duel against Argentina carried such weight.
Although La Albiceleste won yet again, 4-2, La Vinotinto showed they can go toe-to-toe with their more established rivals.
These encounters not only showed the difference but also the passion Venezuela displayed when facing one of the region’s powerhouses.
Why Argentina dominated and Venezuela floundered
The imbalance in this matchup is deeply tied to the broader trajectories of both national teams.
Argentina’s football infrastructure has enabled it to remain competitive across generations, from Diego Maradona to Messi.
On the other hand, Venezuela faced cultural and structural challenges as developmental programs lagged behind.
Yet, La Vinotinto’s persistence has paid off, as shown in their 1-0 win over La Albiceleste in the 2011 World Cup qualifiers.
Argentina may continue to dominate its duels, but Venezuela’s growth ensures the fixture remains a relevant one.
Past head-to-head results (select)
| Date | Competition | Home team | Away Team | Winner | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 5, 2025 | 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers (CONMEBOL) | Argentina | Venezuela | Venezuela | 3-0 |
| October 10, 2024 | 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers (CONMEBOL) | Venezuela | Argentina | Draw | 1-1 |
| March 26, 2022 | 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers (CONMEBOL) | Argentina | Venezuela | Argentina | 3-0 |
| March 9, 2021 | 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers (CONMEBOL) | Venezuela | Argentina | Argentina | 3-1 |
| June 28, 2019 | Copa America | Venezuela | Argentina | Argentina | 2-0 |
| March 22, 2019 | Friendly | Venezuela | Argentina | Venezuela | 3-1 |
| June 9, 2017 | 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers (CONMEBOL) | Argentina | Venezuela | Draw | 2-1 |
| July 9, 2016 | 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers (CONMEBOL) | Venezuela | Argentina | Draw | 2-2 |
| June 19, 2016 | Copa America | Argentina | Venezuela | Argentina | 4-1 |
| March 23, 2013 | 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers (CONMEBOL) | Argentina | Venezuela | Draw | 3-0 |
| Source | Transfermarkt |
Argentina vs Venezuela heats up at FIFA World Cup qualification battles
The FIFA World Cup qualifiers have long been the battleground where Argentina vs Venezuela battles often.
Their first World Cup qualifier clash took place in 1966, in a match that La Albiceleste won with relative ease.
Yet, these qualifiers produced La Vinotinto’s proudest moment in their rivalry: a 2011 victory in Puerto La Cruz.
Gabriel Cichero’s goal secured Venezuela’s first-ever competitive win over Argentina, a stunning victory that shocked the football world.
Despite the lopsided record, La Vinotinto’s resilience, through hard-fought draws and rare wins, gave these fixtures added spice.
Messi brace helps Argentina’s 3-0 win in what could be his final WCQ at home
Messi’s brace proved special in Argentina’s 3-0 win on September 5, 2025, even if La Albiceleste already qualified for the World Cup.
The 38-year-old Argentine superstar’s exploits occurred in what could be his last World Cup qualifying match on home soil.
Messi got the pass from Julian Alvarez to open the scoring for the hosts in the 39th minute.
Lautaro Martinez added a goal in the 76th minute for a 2-0 Argentina lead before Messi completed his brace four minutes later.
The result was a reminder of Argentina’s golden era as the end nears for Messi, while Venezuela continues to grow as a contender.
2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers CONMEBOL team standings
| Position | Team | Matches Played | WIns | Draw | Losses | Points | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Argentina | 17 | 12 | 2 | 3 | 38 | 2026 FIFA World Cup |
| 2 | Brazil | 17 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 28 | 2026 FIFA World Cup |
| 3 | Uruguay | 17 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 27 | 2026 FIFA World Cup |
| 4 | Ecuador | 17 | 7 | 8 | 2 | 26 | 2026 FIFA World Cup |
| 5 | Colombia | 17 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 25 | 2026 FIFA World Cup |
| 6 | Paraguay | 17 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 25 | 2026 FIFA World Cup |
| 7 | Venezuela | 17 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 18 | Inter-confederarion play-off |
| 8 | Bolivia | 17 | 5 | 2 | 10 | 17 | Cannot qualify directly |
| 9 | Peru | 17 | 2 | 6 | 9 | 12 | Eliinated |
| 10 | Chile | 17 | 2 | 4 | 11 | 10 | Eliminatws |
Why Argentina vs Venezuela will remain relevant
At first glance, a rivalry where one dominates might seem unbalanced, but Argentina vs Venezuela fixtures remain highly relevant for many reasons
For Argentina, each duel presents an opportunity to solidify momentum, experiment with new players, and maintain its CONMEBOL dominance.
For Venezuela, every encounter is an opportunity to measure its progress against the very best, learning from the best, and striving for the rare upset.
As La Vinotinto continues to develop its young talent, its competitiveness is expected to steadily improve over the next few years.
Consequently, this balance of expectation and possibilities keeps these duels intense, no matter how one-sided the historical numbers may seem.
What comes next for post-Messi Argentina and rising Venezuela?
The future of this matchup hinges on two storylines: Argentina’s transition beyond Messi and Venezuela’s quest to establish itself as a consistent force.
For La Albiceleste, the post-Messi era will test the depth of their golden generation, with Lautaro Martínez, Julián Álvarez, and Enzo Fernández needed to carry the torch.
Venezuela, on the other hand, will continue to nurture young stars like Yeferson Soteldo and Josef Martinez, as well as rising prospects from European clubs.
As Argentina transitions and Venezuela rises, the fixture may eventually gain balance, producing more competitive encounters.
That prospect adds anticipation to future meetings, making Venezuela vs Argentina statistics, lineups, and standings something to look forward to.
Argentina vs Venezuela: In retrospect
Looking back, the Argentina vs Venezuela fixtures tell a story of contrasts, with La Albiceleste the favorites and La Vinotinto the perennial underdogs.
Argentina’s 3-0 victory in September 2025 was another chapter that highlighted LA Albiceleste’s dominance, but also the promise of change.
With Messi possibly bowing out of the qualifiers, the matchup enters a new phase—one shaped by Argentina’s transition and Venezuela’s ambition.
As long as Venezuela continues to strive hard and Argentina evolves in the post-Messi era, their duels will keep sparking intrigue and emotion for years to come.
Overall, Argentina vs Venezuela reflects the evolving story of South American football: tradition clashing with growth, dominance challenged by persistence.
