Skip to main content
F LIVE
On this day 1958 · Just Fontaine scores 13 in one tournament
Edition 11 of 22 Argentina16 teams38 matches

1978 ARGENTINA

Argentina at home, with Kempes everywhere. Netherlands lose the final again.

The Final

How it ended

1978-06-25 · Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires
Attendance
71,483
Referee
Sergio Gonella (ITA)
Venue
Estadio Monumental
City
Buenos Aires
Individual honours

Awards

Golden Boot
Mario Kempes
ARG
6 goals
Golden Ball
Introduced 1982
Golden Glove
Introduced 1994
Fair Play Trophy
Argentina
The numbers

By the figures

16
Teams
38
Matches
102
Goals
2.68 per game
1,545,791
Attendance
avg 40,679
The tournament

Format, mascot, ball

Format
Two group stages + final
Dates
1978-06-01
→ 1978-06-25
Mascot
Gauchito (a boy in gaucho dress)
Match ball
Tango
Poster
Two arms reaching to embrace the trophy
Footnote

Played under a military junta. The 6-0 against Peru remains one of football's most-discussed scorelines.

Phase 2 adds full squads, group standings, knockout bracket, and every match