The 1978 Football World Cup was held in Argentina between June 1 to 25, 1978 . It was won by Argentina who beat the Netherlands 3-1 after extra time in the final. This win was the first World Cup title for Argentina who became the sixth team (after Uruguay, Italy, West Germany, Brazil, and England) to be world champions.

The format of the competition stayed the same as in 1974: 16 teams qualified, divided into four groups of four. Top two teams in each group would advance to the second round, where they would be split into two groups of four. The winners of each group will play each other in the finals, and the second place finishers in the third place match.

The Netherlands lost their second World Cup final in a row, both times to the host nation, after losing to West Germany in 1974. Mario Kempes of Argentina led the competition by scoring six goals.

In a first-round game against the Netherlands, Scotland's Archie Gemmill scored a famous goal, which was later made a part of a memorable scene in the movie Trainspotting. Scotland needed to win the game by three goals to advance to the second round, and Gemmill made it 3-1 only for the Dutch to score and deny Scotland with a 3-2 result.

There is a lot of controversy surrounding this World Cup, most notably dealing with Argentina's final game in the second round against Peru. Because of goal difference, Argentina needed to defeat Peru side by at least four goals to qualify for the final instead of Brazil, thanks to Brazil's 3-1 victory against Poland played a few hours earlier. The controversy lies with the fact that the Peruvian goalkeeper at the time (Ramón Quiroga) was actually born in Argentina and had, until that game, only let in six goals in five matches. Argentina, it should be noted, had only scored six goals in the competition up to this point; they put the same number past Peru, winning 6-0 and advancing to the final. Nevertheless, players of both sides still deny any agreement to favor Argentina.

FIFA awarded the 1978 World Cup to Argentina in July 1966. Argentina was a candidate to host the 1970 World Cup, but since Mexico City was hosting the 1968 Summer Olympics and had constructed new football stadia, it went to Mexico. Another controversial fact surrounding the 1978 World Cup was that Argentina had suffered a military coup only two years before the cup. Because of this, some countries, most notably the Netherlands, considered publicly whether they should participate in the cup. Despite this, all teams eventually participated without restrictions although the Dutch team attended without its star, Johan Cruyff, who refused to participate.

First Round

Group 1

Team	Pts	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
Italy	6	3	3	0	0	6	2	4
Argentina	4	3	2	0	1	4	3	1
France	2	3	1	0	2	5	5	0
Hungary	0	3	0	0	3	3	8	-5

June 2, Estadio José Maria Minella, Mar del Plata - Italy 2 - 1 France

Goals: LACOMBE Bernard (FRA) 1', ROSSI Paolo (ITA) 29', ZACCARELLI Renato (ITA) 52'

June 2, Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires - Argentina 2 - 1 Hungary

Goals: CSAPO Karoly (HUN) 10', LUQUE Leopoldo (ARG) 15', BERTONI Daniel (ARG) 83'

June 6, Estadio José Maria Minella, Mar del Plata - Italy 3 - 1 Hungary

Goals: ROSSI Paolo (ITA) 34', BETTEGA Roberto (ITA) 36', BENETTI Romeo (ITA) 60', TOTH Andreas (HUN) 81', penalty

June 6, Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires - Argentina 2 - 1 France

Goals: PASSARELLA Daniel (ARG) 45', penalty, PLATINI Michel (FRA) 60', LUQUE Leopoldo (ARG) 73'

June 10, Estadio José Maria Minella, Mar del Plata - France 3 - 1 Hungary

Goals: LOPEZ Christian (FRA) 22', BERDOLL Marc (FRA) 37', ZOMBORI Sandor (HUN) 41', ROCHETEAU Dominique (FRA) 42'

June 10, Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires - Italy 1 - 0 Argentina

Goals: BETTEGA Roberto (ITA) 67'.

Group 2

Team	Pts	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
Poland	5	3	2	1	0	4	1	3
West Germany	4	3	1	2	0	6	0	6
Tunisia	3	3	1	1	1	3	2	1
Mexico	0	3	0	0	3	2	12	-10

June 1, Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires - West Germany 0 - 0 Poland

Goals:

June 2, Estadio Gigante de Arroyito, Rosario - Tunisia 3 - 1 Mexico

Goals: VASQUEZ Arturo (MEX) 45', penalty, KAABI Ali (TUN) 55', GHOMMIDH Nejib (TUN) 79', DHOUIB Moktar (TUN) 87'.

June 6, Estadio Olímpico Chateau Carreras, Córdoba - West Germany 6 - 0 Mexico

Goals: MUELLER Dieter (FRG) 15', MUELLER Hansi (FRG) 30', RUMMENIGGE Karl-Heinz (FRG) 38', FLOHE Heinz (FRG) 44', RUMMENIGGE Karl-Heinz (FRG) 73', FLOHE Heinz (FRG) 89'

June 6, Estadio Gigante de Arroyito, Rosario - Poland 1 - 0 Tunisia

Goals: LATO Grzegorz (POL) 43'

June 10, Estadio Olímpico Chateau Carreras, Córdoba - West Germany 0 - 0 Tunisia

Goals:

June 10, Estadio Gigante de Arroyito, Rosario - Poland 3 - 1 Mexico

Goals: BONIEK Zbigniew (POL) 43', RANGEL Victor (MEX) 52', DEYNA Kazimierz (POL) 56', BONIEK Zbigniew (POL) 84'.

Group 3

Team	Pts	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
Austria	4	3	2	0	1	3	2	1
Brazil	4	3	1	2	0	2	1	1
Spain	3	3	1	1	1	2	2	0
Sweden	1	3	0	1	2	1	3	-2

June 3, Estadio José Amalfitani, Buenos Aires - Austria 2 - 1 Spain

Goals: SCHACHNER Walter (AUT) 9', DANI (ESP) 21', KRANKL Johann (AUT) 76'.

June 3, Estadio José Maria Minella, Mar del Plata - Sweden 1 - 1 Brazil

Goals: SJOBERG Thomas (SWE) 37', REINALDO (BRA) 45'.

June 7, Estadio José Amalfitani, Buenos Aires - Austria 1 - 0 Sweden

Goals: KRANKL Johann (AUT) 42', penalty.

June 7, Estadio José Maria Minella, Mar del Plata - Spain 0 - 0 Brazil

Goals:

June 11, Estadio José Amalfitani, Buenos Aires - Spain 1 - 0 Sweden

Goals: ASENSI (ESP) 75'.

June 11, Estadio José Maria Minella, Mar del Plata - Brazil 1 - 0 Austria

Goals: ROBERTO DINAMITE (BRA) 40'.

Group 4

Team	Pts	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
Peru	5	3	2	1	0	7	2	5
Netherlands	3	3	1	1	1	5	3	2
Scotland	3	3	1	1	1	5	6	-1
Iran	1	3	0	1	2	2	8	-6

June 3, Estadio Chateau Carreras, Córdoba - Peru 3 - 1 Scotland

Goals: JORDAN Joe (SCO) 14', CUETO Cesar (PER) 43', CUBILLAS Teofilo (PER) 72', CUBILLAS Teofilo (PER) 77'.

June 3, Estadio Ciudad de Mendoza, Mendoza - Netherlands 3 - 0 Iran

Goals: RENSENBRINK Rob (NED) 40', penalty, RENSENBRINK Rob (NED) 62', RENSENBRINK Rob (NED) 79', penalty.

June 7, Estadio Olímpico Chateau Carreras, Córdoba - Scotland 1 - 1 Iran

Goals: ESKANDARIAN Andaranik (IRN) 43', own goal, DANAIYFAR Iraj (IRN) 60'.

June 7, Estadio Ciudad de Mendoza, Mendoza - Netherlands 0 - 0 Peru

Goals:

June 11, Estadio Olímpico Chateau Carreras, Córdoba - Peru 4 - 1 Iran

Goals: VELASQUEZ Jose (PER) 2', CUBILLAS Teofilo (PER) 36', penalty, CUBILLAS Teofilo (PER) 39', penalty, ROWSHAN Hassan (IRN) 41', CUBILLAS Teofilo (PER) 79'

June 11, Estadio Ciudad de Mendoza, Mendoza - Scotland 3 - 2 Netherlands

Goals: RENSENBRINK Rob (NED) 34', penalty, DALGLISH Kenneth (SCO) 44', GEMMILL Archie (SCO) 47', penalty, GEMMILL Archie (SCO) 68', REP Jonny (NED) 71'.

Second Round

Group 1

Team	Pts	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
Netherlands	5	3	2	1	0	9	4	5
Italy	3	3	1	1	1	2	2	0
West Germany	2	3	0	2	1	4	5	-1
Austria	2	3	1	0	2	4	8	-4

June 14, Estadio Chateau Carreras, Córdoba - Netherlands 5 - 1 Austria

Goals: BRANDTS Erny (NED) 6', RENSENBRINK Rob (NED) 35', penalty, REP Jonny (NED) 36', REP Jonny (NED) 53', OBERMAYER Erich (AUT) 79', VAN DE KERKHOF Willy (NED) 82'.

June 14, Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires - West Germany 0 - 0 Italy

Goals:

June 18, Estadio Olímpico Chateau Carreras, Córdoba - West Germany 2 - 2 Netherlands

Goals: ABRAMCZIK Ruediger (FRG) 3', HAAN Adrianus (NED) 27', MUELLER Dieter (FRG) 70', VAN DE KERKHOF Rene (NED) 84'.

June 18, Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires - Italy 1 - 0 Austria

Goals: ROSSI Paolo (ITA) 14'.

June 21, Estadio Olímpico Chateau Carreras, Córdoba - Austria 3 - 2 West Germany

Goals: RUMMENIGGE Karl-Heinz (FRG) 19', VOGTS Berti (FRG) 59', own goal, KRANKL Johann (AUT) 66', HOELZENBEIN Bernd (FRG) 72', KRANKL Johann (AUT) 87'.

June 21, Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires - Netherlands 2 - 1 Italy

Goals: BRANDTS Erny (NED) 18', own goal, BRANDTS Erny (NED) 50', HAAN Adrianus (NED) 75'.

Group 2

Team	Pts	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
Argentina	5	3	2	1	0	8	0	8
Brazil	5	3	2	1	0	6	1	5
Poland	2	3	1	0	2	2	5	-3
Peru	0	3	0	0	3	0	10	-10

June 14, Estadio Ciudad de Mendoza, Mendoza - Brazil 3 - 0 Peru

Goals: DIRCEU (BRA) 15', DIRCEU (BRA) 28', ZICO (BRA) 73', penalty.

June 14, Estadio Gigante de Arroyito, Rosario - Argentina 2 - 0 Poland

Goals: KEMPES Mario (ARG) 16', KEMPES Mario (ARG) 71'.

June 18, Estadio Ciudad de Mendoza, Mendoza - Poland 1 - 0 Peru

Goals: SZARMACH Andrzej (POL) 65'.

June 18, Estadio Gigante de Arroyito, Rosario - Argentina 0 - 0 Brazil

Goals:

June 21, Estadio Ciudad de Mendoza, Mendoza - Brazil 3 - 1 Poland

Goals: NELINHO (BRA) 12', LATO Grzegorz (POL) 45', ROBERTO DINAMITE (BRA) 57', ROBERTO DINAMITE (BRA) 63'.

June 21, Estadio Gigante de Arroyito, Rosario - Argentina 6 - 0 Peru

Goals: KEMPES Mario (ARG) 21', TARANTINI Alberto (ARG) 43', KEMPES Mario (ARG) 46', LUQUE Leopoldo (ARG) 50', HOUSEMAN Rene (ARG) 67', LUQUE Leopoldo (ARG) 72'.

Third Place Match

June 24, Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires - Brazil 2 - 1 Italy

Goals: CAUSIO Franco (ITA) 38', NELINHO (BRA) 64', DIRCEU (BRA) 72'.

Final

June 25, Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires - Argentina 3 - 1 (AET) Netherlands

Attendance: 71,483

Referee: Sergio Gonella (Italy)

Goals: KEMPES Mario (ARG) 38', NANNINGA Dick (NED) 82', KEMPES Mario (ARG) 105', BERTONI Daniel (ARG) 116'.