• The FIFA World Cup final has been contested between a South American team and a European team on ten previous occasions, with South America triumphing seven times. However, the three successes for Europe have come in the last five meetings. 
  • Argentina is aiming to become the first South American nation to win the FIFA World Cup since Brazil in 2002. 
  • Argentina is facing European opposition in the FIFA World Cup final for the fifth time, having previously encountered the Netherlands (1978) and West Germany/Germany (1986, 1990 and 2014). 
  • Argentina lost 1-0 in its last two appearances in the FIFA World Cup final (1990 and 2014). 
  • Argentina has scored 149 goals in FIFA World Cup matches and could become the third nation after Brazil (237) and Germany (232) to reach the landmark of 150. 
  • Argentina has lost only one of its last 42 international matches (W29 D12). 
  • Argentina has scored the first goal in each of its six matches at Qatar 2022. 
  • Lionel Messi will overtake Lothar Matthäus (25) as the record appearance-maker in FIFA World Cup history if he plays in the final.  France has now reached the final in four of the last seven editions of the FIFA World Cup. 
  • France has been successful in two of its previous three appearances in the FIFA World Cup final and only lost out on penalties against Italy in 2006. 
  • France is unbeaten in its last ten FIFA World Cup matches against South American nations (W6 D4). Its last defeat was against Argentina in 1978 (2-1). 
  • France has remarkably kept eight clean sheets in its last nine FIFA World Cup matches against South American nations. 
  • France is the first FIFA World Cup holders to reach the final since Brazil in 1998. 
  • France has become the fifth team to win the FIFA World Cup and return to the final in the following edition after Italy (1934-1938), Brazil (1958-1962), Argentina (1986-1990) and Brazil (1994-1998). 
  • France could become the third team to win two successive FIFA World Cups, following Italy (1934-1938) and Brazil (1958-1962). 
  • France has been successful in 16 of its last 18 FIFA World Cup knockout ties (including one penalty shootout win). 
  • France’s Hugo Lloris is set to become the first goalkeeper to reach 20 FIFA World Cup appearances. 
  • Didier Deschamps is aiming to become only the second coach to win two FIFA World Cup titles, following Vittorio Pozzo who was successful with Italy in 1934 and 1938.