Lionel Scaloni’s contract extension not only secures his tenure as Argentina’s head coach for the next cycle but also positions him to make historic strides on the bench. The Argentine Football Association (AFA) announced Thursday, through its president Claudio Tapia, that the coach will remain in charge through 2030, setting the stage for a feat unachieved by any previous Argentine manager.
Should Scaloni stay at the helm until the 2030 World Cup, he will become the first coach to guide Argentina to three different World Cups—Qatar 2022, the 2026 tournament in North America, and the centennial edition in 2030.
In doing so, he would surpass the achievements of César Luis Menotti, who led Argentina to the World Cup in 1978 and 1982, and Carlos Bilardo, who did the same in 1986 and 1990—both having served as coach for two tournaments each.
The pursuit of this record follows a World Cup that ended in disappointment, with Argentina losing the 2026 final to Spain on July 19—a result that threatened his future as coach. “The blow of not having won the final was hard, and the first thing that comes to your mind is to think about what to do, see what comes and try to recharge your batteries,” Scaloni said at the final press conference.
Nearly four months after the final at MetLife Stadium, Scaloni has now accepted the offer to remain as coach and will aim to continue writing history with Argentina.
Scaloni’s Achievements: Existing Records and Future Goals
Few coaches have assembled a résumé as compelling as Lionel Scaloli’s. In 107 matches as Argentina’s manager, he has compiled a record of 79 victories, 18 draws, and 10 defeats, securing four major titles: the 2021 Copa América, the 2022 FIFA Finalissima, the 2022 World Cup, and the 2024 Copa América. These achievements place him second among Argentina’s most decorated coaches, tied with Alfio Basile and one behind Guillermo Stabile, who captured seven championships.
Scaloli already holds several notable records. He is the coach who has directed the most World Cup matches (13) and earned the most victories (10) in Argentina’s history. Additionally, he guided the national side through a 36‑match unbeaten streak from 2019 to 2022, eclipsing the previous record of 31 wins set by Alfio Basile’s team. That streak came to an end during the opening match of the Qatar World Cup with a 2‑1 defeat to Saudi Arabia.
Nevertheless, Guillermo Stabile’s overall tally remains within reach. Scaloli requires five additional victories to become the all‑time leader in wins for Argentina’s national team and needs 18 more matches to overtake Stabile’s total of 124 games managed—a milestone he could reach as early as the 2028 Copa América.
Now that his contract extends through 2030, Scaloli possesses the duration and the competition schedule to realize these ambitions. To equal Stabile’s seven titles, he would need to capture the 2028 Copa América, secure the 2030 World Cup, and also win the FIFA Finalissima against Spain—a trophy that remains elusive at present.