The Argentina World Cup 2026 squad is a little closer to being decided.
Lionel Messi and co. continue preparations to defend their crown at World Cup 2026 with a set of friendlies in October.
The current world champions finished top of the CONEMBOL qualification group and will head to Mexico, Canada and the USA as one of the favourites for football's most coveted prize.
La Albiceleste will face Venezuela and Puerto Rico in two friendlies in the United States, with several Premier League players involved.
Emi Martinez, Cristian Romero and Alexis Mac Allister link up once more while Bournemouth's Julio Soler is included.
Several stars from Madrid are also called up, with young Franco Mastantuono of Real Madrid perhaps the heir for Lionel Messi's playmaking role in future – though the GOAT is involved this time, too.
Can Argentina become the first nation since 1970 to win two World Cups back-to-back?
Squad
Argentina World Cup 2026 squad: The October selection
- GK: Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa)
- GK: Geronimo Rulli (Marseille)
- GK: Walter Benitez (Crystal Palace)
- DF: Cristian Romero (Tottenham)
- DF: Leonardo Balerdi (Marseille)
- DF: Juan Foyth (Villarreal)
- DF: Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica)
- DF: Julio Soler (Bournemouth)
- DF: Nicolas Tagliafico (Lyon)
- DF: Marcos Acuna (River Plate)
- DF: Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid)
- DF Gonzalo Montiel (River Plate)
- MF: Alan Varela (Porto)
- MF: Leandro Parades (Boca Juniors)
- MF: Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool)
- MF: Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen)
- MF: Rodrigo De Paul (Inter Miami)
- MF: Nico Paz (Como)
- MF: Claudio Echeverri (Bayer Leverkusen)
- MF: Giovani Lo Celso (Real Betis)
- MF: Valentin Carboni (Genoa)
- FW: Thiago Almada (Atletico Madrid)
- FW: Nico Gonzalez (Atletico Madrid)
- FW: Franco Mastantuono (Real Madrid)
- FW: Giuliano Simeone (Atletico Madrid)
- FW: Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)
- FW: Julian Alvarez (Atletico Madrid)
- FW: Lautaro Martinez (Inter)
- FW: Jose Mauel Lopez (Palmeiras)
Fixtures and results
October 14th: Spain vs Bulgaria, Estadio Jose Zorrilla, Valladolid, Spain
October 10th: Spain vs Georgia, Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero, Elche, Spain
September 10: Ecuador 1-0 Argentina, Estadio Monumental Banco Pichincha, Guayaquil, Ecuador
September 4: Argentina 3-0 Venezuela, Mas Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina
June 11: Argentina 1-1 Colombia, Mas Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina
June 6: Chile 0-1 Argentina, Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Pradanos, Santiago, Chile
March 26: Argentina 4-1 Brazil, Mas Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina
March 21: Uruguay 0-1 Argentina, Estadio Centenario, Montevideo, Uruguay
Manager
Who is Argentina's manager?
Lionel Scaloni has led Argentina in an incredibly successful period for the nation.
He has won three major trophies in a row, Copa America, World Cup and another Copa America, ending their droughts in both competitions.
His team selections have been aided by some outstanding performances at club level, and well, having Lionel Messi at his disposal.
Argentina's Star Player
Who is Argentina's star player?
Not much is left to be said about Lionel Messi. The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner reached the summit of football when he lifted the 2022 World Cup, firmly cementing his status as one of the greats.
He cast doubt on his participation at the 2026 World Cup in September, saying, "I said before about the World Cup that I don't think I'll play another. Because of my age, the most logical thing is that I won't make it." Scaloni insists there has not yet been a decision from the 38-year-old, who will probably wait until the new year before addressing his exact intentions.
Messi ranked at no.1 in FourFourTwo's list of the greatest players of all time, and has been a huge part of Argentina winning the Copa America back-to-back, with the World Cup sandwiched in between.
Predicted XI
Formation 4-2-3-1
GK: Emiliano Martinez
RB: Nahuel Molina
CB: Cristian Romero
CB: Nicolas Otamendi
LB: Nico Tagliafico
DM: Rodrigo de Paul
DM: Alexis Mac Allister
RW: Franco Mastantuono
AM: Lionel Messi
LW: Julian Alvarez
ST: Lautaro Martinez
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