What Argentinians Eat While Watching the World Cup | The Ultimate Matchday Food Guide
When the World Cup starts, something shifts in Argentina. People gather, tables fill up, and food becomes just as important as the football itself.
For Argentinians, watching a national team match isn't just a sporting event — it's a reason to get together around the table. If you're Latin American living in Japan, you probably miss it. And if you're Japanese and curious about Argentine culture, here's everything you need to know.
1. La Picada — The Queen of the Gathering
In Argentina, the World Cup is always watched with a picada. No exceptions.
A picada is a shared platter of cold cuts, cheeses, olives, peanuts, bread, and breadsticks placed in the middle of the table for everyone to graze on throughout the match. No plates needed, no cutlery required — it lasts from the pre-game buildup all the way through the post-match celebration (or consolation).
The essentials:
- Salamín (dry-cured salami, Tandil-style is the classic)
- Patagrás or cremoso cheese
- Green and black olives
- Pan de campo (rustic country bread) or baguette
- Salted peanuts
- Cherry tomatoes and roasted peppers
2. Empanadas — The Perfect Match Snack
Right alongside the picada, empanadas are the most iconic football food in Argentina.
They're prepared before the match — usually in large batches — and eaten throughout the 90 minutes without plates or cutlery. One empanada is filling, your hands stay clean, and you can eat standing up in front of the TV. The perfect conditions for watching football.
Every region has its own style: Salta-style are juicy and spiced, Córdoba-style include raisins, Buenos Aires-style are more straightforward. But they all share the same DNA: homemade dough, generous filling, and plenty of care.
In Japan, frozen empanadas are the easiest way to recreate this tradition. Oven-baked in 20–25 minutes and ready before kickoff.
3. El Asado — The Pre-Match Ritual
When there's time, Argentinians do an asado before the game.
An asado isn't just grilling meat — it's a social ritual that starts hours before kickoff. Someone lights the fire, others bring wine, and everyone talks while the meat cooks slowly over the coals. It's the Argentine way of turning a match into a full-day event.
The classic cuts:
- Asado de tira (short ribs)
- Vacío (flank steak)
- Chorizo and morcilla (blood sausage)
- Chicken as a lighter alternative
- Everything served with chimichurri — always
4. El Choripán — The Quick and Reliable Option
When there's no time for a full asado, the choripán solves everything.
Bread + grilled chorizo + chimichurri. Three ingredients, foolproof result. It's Argentina's most democratic dish: sold at stands outside stadiums, made at home, brought to parks. Simple, affordable, and absolutely delicious.
5. Pizza — For Weeknight Matches
When the match falls on a Tuesday evening and no one has time to cook, Argentinians order pizza.
Argentine pizza has Italian roots but evolved into something entirely its own: thick crust, generous cheese, big slices. The favorites for football watching:
- Muzzarella — the classic, never fails
- Napolitana — fresh tomato, anchovies, and olives
- Fugazzeta — caramelized onion and cheese, no tomato
6. Mate — The Silent Companion
It's not food, but there's no match without mate.
Mate is an herbal infusion drunk from a gourd through a metal straw called a bombilla. In Argentina it's consumed all day long, but during the World Cup it takes on a special role: it keeps you awake through long matches, it's shared among everyone present, and it's a symbol of national identity as strong as the blue-and-white jersey itself.
The Argentine World Cup Table: A Summary
| Food | When | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Picada | Before and throughout the match | Easy to share, no cooking needed |
| Empanadas | During the match | Filling, no mess, eat standing up |
| Asado | Pre-match ritual | The great social event of the day |
| Choripán | Quick option | Three ingredients, perfect result |
| Pizza | Weeknight matches | No cooking, feeds everyone |
| Mate | Always | Argentina's national symbol |
How to Recreate the Experience in Japan
A picada can be put together with products from import food stores. An asado requires a grill. But the fastest and easiest way to bring Argentina to your living room in Japan is with frozen empanadas.
In the oven in 20 minutes, with chimichurri on the side and a Selección match on screen — that's all it takes.
Shop frozen empanadas → https://cheempanada.jp/collections/empanadas