Qatar 2022 - World Cup Group C

Four teams will contest Group C at Qatar 2022.

Check back after today's World Cup draw for full group information.

ARGENTINA

Confederation: CONMEBOL
FIFA ranking: 4
Team nickname: La Albiceleste
Previous World Cup appearances: 17
Honours: World Cup (2): 1978, 1986 Copa America (15): 1921, 1925, 1927, 1929, 1937, 1941, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1955, 1957, 1959, 1991, 1993, 2021 Confederations Cup: 1992
Head coach: Lionel Scaloni
Star players: Lionel Messi (PSG), Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan), Angel Di Maria (PSG)

Runners-up in 2014, Argentina exited the 2018 World Cup at the Round of 16 stage, their worst finish since failing to progress from the group in 2002 – they’ve not lifted the trophy since Maradona led them to glory at Mexico ‘86.

The 4-3 defeat to France in 2018 was the last match in charge for head coach Jorge Sampaoli who was replaced by former international defender Lionel Scaloni, now in his first role as a manager. Scaloni led La Albiceleste to the Copa America title in 2021, their first since 1993, where Lionel Messi and Emiliano Martinez were named Player and Goalkeeper of the Tournament respectively.

After their final qualifying matches this past week, Argentina are without defeat in 31 matches, tying the national record 31 set between 1991 and 1993 and remain a threat on the biggest stage.

Steven Caldwell's take: “With Argentina, the story is obviously Lionel Messi. Can he roll back the years and have the kind of tournament he had at Copa America? Can the team build the pieces around him to be successful? They’ve done well through qualification and they seem to have the right man at coach in Lionel Scaloni, who seems to fit with the personalities of the players and Messi himself.”

Head-to-head v Canada: 1-0

MEXICO

Confederation: CONCACAF
FIFA Ranking: 9
Team nickname: El Tri
Previous World Cup appearances: 16
Honours: CONCACAF Championship/Gold Cup (11): 1965, 1971, 1977, 1993, 1996, 1998, 2003, 2009, 2011, 2015, 2019 Confederations Cup: 1999
Head coach: Gerardo Martino
Star players: Guillermo Ochoa (America), Hector Herrera (Atletico), Raul Jiménez (Wolves)

Mexico have qualified for an eighth consecutive World Cup, but will want to break a run of seven straight Round of 16 exits. El Tri were beaten 2-0 by Brazil in Russia, once again failing to win a knockout stage match, something they have done just once with a 2-0 win against Bulgaria on home soil in 1986. They have appeared at the most World Cup finals (16) without ever reaching the semi-finals.

Appointed in 2019, Argentine Gerardo Martino is set to coach at the World Cup for the second time having previously led Paraguay to the quarter-finals in 2010, where they lost 1-0 to eventual winners Spain. Martino also led his native country to Copa America finals in 2015 and 2016, losing both.

Mexico’s strength has often been in their experience and goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa (127 caps), Andres Guardado (175 caps), Hector Moreno (121 caps), Hector Herrera (98 caps) and Raul Jimenez (93 caps) continue to provide it alongside fresher talent in Cesar Montes (Monterrey), Edson Alvarez (Ajax) and Uriel Antuna (Cruz Azul).

Steven Caldwell's take: “Mexico didn’t have the best qualification and there seems to be some disharmony there, in my opinion, between coach Tata Martino and the players. But they have talent and they usually find their best performances at a World Cup. Can they get out of their group and can they get by that massive mental hurdle of winning a Round of 16 game and make the quarterfinals? It remains to be seen, but there are top players in the front line and if they can get fire in Hirving Lozano and Tecatito and Raul Jimenez, they can be a real challenge.”

Head-to-head v Canada: 18-11-11

POLAND

Confederation: UEFA
FIFA ranking: 26
Team nickname: The Eagles
Previous World Cup appearances: 8
Honours: None
Head coach: Czesław Michniewicz
Star players: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich), Wojciech Szczesny (Juventus), Arkadiusz Milik (Marseille)

Despite a successful qualifying campaign in which Poland finished second to England in their group, a 2-1 home defeat to Hungary on the final matchday left Poland unseeded and facing an away play-off against Russia. The Polish Football Association, furious at the decision not to include superstar striker Robert Lewandowski in the squad against Hungary, sacked head coach Paulo Sousa, citing the potential financial losses that missing out on a home play-off tie and World Cup could lead to. Russia was subsequently kicked out of qualifying following the invasion of Ukraine, giving Poland a walkover in the semi-final tie. From there, new head coach Czeslaw Michniewicz, a former Poland under-21 manager who was appointed until the end of December 2022, led the Eagles to a 2-0 play-off final win against Sweden to earn passage to Qatar.

Lewandowski, who scored a penalty for one of the goals against Sweden, has now scored 75 goals in 129 appearances for the national side and remains integral to their plans. In what could be his last World Cup, the Bayern hitman will want to improve on his appearance in 2018 where he failed to score in three appearances.

The Eagles have not progressed from the group stage at any of their last three World Cups and also failed to do so at Euro 2020, but a 1-1 draw with Spain highlighted what difficult opposition they can be. Players such as Piotr Zielinski (Napoli) and Arkadiusz Milik (Marseille) will be tasked with providing back-up for Lewandowski.

Steven Caldwell's take: “Poland is about Robert Lewandowski, their captain and leader. He’s one of the greatest strikers in the world and one of the greatest of his generation. It’s all built around him, but I think it’s important that others play their role and take a bit of the pressure off of Lewandowski. But I also think they’ll have to try to replicate the kind of service he gets at Bayern, in terms of crosses into the box and the kind of deliveries he thrives on.”

Head-to-head v Canada: 4-0

SAUDI ARABIA

Confederation: AFC
FIFA ranking: 49
Team nickname: The Green
Previous World Cup appearances: 5
Honours: Asian Cup (3): 1984, 1988, 1996
Head coach: Herve Renard
Star players: Salah Al-Shehri (Al-Hilal), Salem Al-Dawsari (Al-Hilal), Fahal Al-Muwallad (Al-Ittihad)

After defeats to Russia (5-0) and Uruguay (1-0) in their first two matches of the 2018 World Cup, a 2-1 win against Egypt secured a first World Cup win since 1994 for Saudi Arabia. They reached the Round of 16 at their first ever World Cup in the United States, losing 3-1 to Sweden, but have not progressed beyond the group stage in four appearances since.

Now under the stewardship of Herve Renard, who led Morocco to the 2018 World Cup where they drew 2-2 with Spain in their final group stage match following 1-0 defeats to Iran and Portugal, Saudi Arabia will hope to match the success of their 1994 campaign in which Saeed Al-Owairan scored one of the most memorable World Cup goals, a solo effort in their 1-0 group-stage victory against Belgium.

Renard will likely pick players who are all based domestically, with the majority coming from Asian football’s most decorated club, Al-Hilal.

Head-to-head v Canada: 1-0