Argentina and South Africa will both be looking to not only get off the mark in this edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup but earn their first-ever victories in the history of the tournament.

This will be Argentina’s 11th outing in four instalments of the competition, and the CONMEBOL representatives will see it as a good opportunity to get their first win under their belts in what is their inaugural contest against a team from Africa at the finals.

They will take heart from their opening performance against Italy, when they looked to be on course to hold their opponents to a creditable goalless draw, only to concede in the 87th minute.

South Africa were equally unfortunate to be on the receiving end of a late goal, having taken the lead early in the second half against Sweden before ultimately going down 2-1 to a 90th-minute winner.

They will, however, take confidence from their performance and look to bounce back in this Group G encounter.

• Head-to-Head: Both have never met

KEY FACTS

• This will be the first time that Argentina have faced African opposition at the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
• Argentina have yet to win a FIFA Women’s World Cup match in ten attempts (Draw: 2,Lost 8).
• Against Italy, Argentina’s Vanina Correa became the oldest goalkeeper to have made an appearance at the finals, at the age of 39 years and 344 days.
• Each of Argentina’s five goals at the finals have been scored in the second half. Their earliest goal to date was scored by Eva González in the 60th minute of their 6-1 defeat against England in 2007.
• This is South Africa’s first FIFA Women’s World Cup match against South American opposition.
• Against Sweden, Bambanani Mbane became the oldest player to have featured in a FIFA Women’s World Cup match for South Africa, at the age of 33 years and 133 days.

ARGENTINA TEAM FACTS

• Overall record: Play 10, Win 0, Draw 2, Lost 8, Goals For: 5, Goals Against: 38, Goal Difference: -33
• Biggest win: nil
• Biggest defeat: Argentina 0-11Germany (10/09/2007)
• Highest scoring match: 11 goals – Argentina 0-11 Germany (10/09/2007)
• Most goals scored in a match: 3 – Argentina 3-3 Scotland (19/06/2019)
• Most goals conceded in a match: 11 – Argentina 0-11 Germany (10/09/2007)
• Most goals scored at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 3 – 2019 (3 matches)
• Fewest goals scored at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 1 – 2003 (3 matches) and 2007 (3 matches)
• Most goals conceded at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 18 – 2007 (3 matches)
• Fewest goals conceded at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 4 – 2019 (3 matches)

FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP STREAKS

• Successive wins: nil
• Successive defeats: 6 (2003-2007)
• Successive draws: 1 (twice, both in 2019)
• Successive matches without a defeat: 1 (twice, both in 2019) Successive matches without a win: 10 (2003-present)
• Successive matches with a goal scored: 1 (2003, 2007 and 2019)
• Successive matches without scoring: 2 (2003, 2007 and 2019)
• Successive clean sheets: 1 (2019)

SOUTH AFRICA TEAM FACTS

• Overall record: Play 4,  Win 0,  Draw 0,  Lost 4, Goals For: 2, Goals Against: 10,  Goals Difference: -8
• Biggest win: nil
• Biggest defeat: South Africa 04. Germany (17/06/2019)
• Highest scoring match: 4 goals – South Africa 1-3 Spain (08/06/2019)/South Africa 0-4 Germany (17/06/2019)
• Most goals scored in a match: 1 – South Africa 1-3 Spain (08/06/2019)/South Africa 1-2 Sweden (23/07/2023)
• Most goals conceded in a match: 4 – South Africa 0-4 Germany (17/06/2019)
• Most goals scored at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 1 – 2019 (3 matches) and 2023 (1 match)
• Fewest goals scored at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 1 – 2019 (3 matches) and 2023 (1 match)
• Most goals conceded at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 8 – 2019 (3 matches)
• Fewest goals conceded at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 8 – 2019 (3 matches)

FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP STREAKS

• Successive wins: nil
• Successive defeats: 4 (2019-present)
• Successive draws: 0
• Successive matches without a defeat: 0
• Successive matches without a win: 4 (2019-present)
• Successive matches with a goal scored: 1 (2019 and 2023-present)
• Successive matches without scoring: 2 (2019)
• Successive clean sheets: 0