Maradona has tried out 62 players since he became national coach 10 months ago but lost three out of five qualifiers and Argentines are bracing themselves for the unthinkable, that they might not make it next year's finals in South Africa.
Argentina's 3-1 home loss to Brazil on Saturday fuelled growing doubts as they fight for the fourth and last automatic spot with only three qualifiers to go.
"Maradona's myth is not in danger in terms of what happened to him as a player. The symbol of Maradona is now in doubt as a coach," said Pablo Alabarces, a professor at the University of Buenos Aires who has written a book about soccer and popular culture.
"If he'd proved to be a great coach and ... there was expectation of a World Cup title, his mythic status would have been confirmed," he added.
Maradona, who rose from a Buenos Aires slum to become the nation's most famous son when he led the country to World Cup victory in 1986, was picked to lead the national team last year.
"He's doing really badly," said Carlos Terry, 67, who was visiting the Boca Juniors stadium, while his son and grandson posed next to a copper statue of the soccer idol.
"He's only coached Racing, and a smaller team. So what experience does he have? All the love and the fanaticism that people feel for him will be lost in this (coaching) stage," he added.
In the working-class Boca neighbourhood, Maradona's image and the number 10 of his football jersey are daubed across walls in the sky-blue and white of the national flag.
"Even if he loses the next game 20-0, his image won't be affected," said Jorge Godoy, 55, who has dedicated a whole room in his soccer store to Maradona merchandise. "What he's done in the past can't be taken away."
