Argentina have proven to be the deadliest team in set-pieces at World Cup 2026. With five goals scored from this route —plus Lautaro Martínez’s penalty against Jordan— Lionel Scaloni’s side has racked up 17 goals in the tournament and leads the scoring average. Last result: Angola 0-2 Argentina (2025-11-14).

What’s behind Argentina’s set-piece dominance?

The Mercedes-Benz Stadium still echoes with the memory of that unforgettable comeback against Egypt. Yet at World Cup 2026, set-pieces have become Argentina’s lifeline. Giovani Lo Celso and Lionel Messi scored from free kicks against Jordan; Lisandro Martínez and Cristian Romero headed in from corners against Cabo Verde; and Alexis Mac Allister nodded in against Switzerland. Each goal was crucial for a team that has lost some of its flow but never its cutting edge.

Walter Samuel, Scaloni’s assistant, runs the set-piece lab. After Mac Allister’s header, Scaloni walked over to slap his assistant’s back: Samuel had insisted the midfielder attack the near post. Messi’s cross bent the ball’s flight and unlocked a game that could have turned sour. It wasn’t a fluke. Argentina’s five set-piece goals out of 17 total have become the backbone of their tournament identity.

Why did England hire a specialist to counter this?

England also tapped into set-pieces, but took the analysis further. In 2025, Thomas Tuchel brought in Paul Quilter, an analyst dedicated solely to set-pieces. Quilter, who spent 14 years at Chelsea —where he overlapped with Enzo Fernández between 2023 and 2025— built a playbook of named plays with defined roles for every player. His NFL-inspired system saw England convert 25% of their set-piece chances during World Cup qualifiers.

Quilter’s work includes scouting opponents and tailoring variants for each match. England, which scored 25% of their goals from set-pieces in qualifiers, now aims to neutralize Argentina’s edge. The semifinal clash promises a tactical duel where every detail matters.

What’s next for Argentina?

Argentina head into the semifinal with a reinforced identity: 17 goals in the World Cup, the best scoring average in the tournament, and a side that, though less fluid, remains deadly in key moments. Set-pieces are no longer an afterthought; they’re Argentina’s trademark under Scaloni.

Still, the challenge remains the same: keep that edge in tighter games. The semifinal against England will be a stern test. If Argentina can replicate their set-piece magic, they could add another golden chapter to their story. With a current three-game winning streak (WWWLD, last: Angola 0-2 Argentina on 2025-11-14), the team arrives hungry for more.