Taskin Ahmed Riyad, Editor || Argentina are just one match away from another FIFA World Cup title, but history suggests July has not been a fortunate month for the South American giants.The reigning world champions will face Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final on July 20. While Lionel Messi’s side are aiming to defend their crown, they also have an opportunity to break a long-standing trend: Argentina have never won a World Cup final played in July.La Albiceleste have lifted football’s biggest trophy three times in 1978, 1986 and 2022. Interestingly, none of those triumphs came in July.Their first World Cup title was secured on June 25, 1978, when they defeated the Netherlands 3-1 after extra time in Buenos Aires. Eight years later, Diego Maradona inspired Argentina to a memorable 3-2 victory over West Germany in the final on June 29, 1986.Argentina’s most recent success came in Qatar in 2022, where Lionel Messi captained the team to victory over France in one of the greatest World Cup finals in history. That match was played on December 18 because the tournament was moved to the winter due to Qatar’s climate.Although Argentina have won three World Cups, they have reached the final on six previous occasions before 2026. Their three defeats all came in finals held during July.The first was in the inaugural FIFA World Cup in 1930, when Argentina lost 4-2 to Uruguay on July 30 in Montevideo.The second came on July 8, 1990, as West Germany edged Diego Maradona’s Argentina 1-0 in Rome to claim the title.The most recent July disappointment arrived in Brazil in 2014. On July 13, Mario Götze’s extra-time goal gave Germany a 1-0 victory over Argentina, denying Lionel Messi his first World Cup trophy.Now, another July final awaits.With the 2026 FIFA World Cup hosted jointly by the United States, Canada and Mexico, Argentina will once again play for the title this time against Spain.Victory would not only allow Argentina to retain the World Cup but also earn the nation’s first-ever World Cup triumph in a final played during July.For Lionel Messi, who is widely expected to be playing in his final World Cup, the match carries even greater significance. It presents an opportunity to add another historic achievement to an already legendary career while helping Argentina rewrite a chapter of World Cup history that has remained unchanged for nearly a century.