This will be the first ever meeting between Argentina and Cabo Verde in any competition. Argentina have won each of their last seven FIFA World Cup games against African opponents since losing their first ever such game against Cameroon in 1990 (0-1).

Cabo Verde are only the third debuting nation to face the FIFA World Cup defending champions in a knockout tie in their first ever participation at the finals, after Norway in 1938 (lost 1-2 to Italy) and Ghana in 2006 (lost 0-3 to Brazil).