Argentina’s Preliminary Roster for World Cup Qualifiers
Lionel Scaloni, the head coach of the Argentine national football team, has announced a preliminary roster for the upcoming CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying matches against Venezuela and Ecuador, scheduled for September 4 and September 9, respectively.
Key Players Included
Star player Lionel Messi has made the list, along with promising young prospects such as Franco Mastantuono, who recently signed with Real Madrid, and Claudio Echeverri from Manchester City. Other notable inclusions are Julio Soler, a defender from AFC Bournemouth, and José Manuel “Flaco” López, who currently plays for Palmeiras.
This squad also sees the return of Marcos Acuña, an experienced player, while Alejandro Garnacho from Manchester United will not participate in this round of qualifiers. Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernández, who received a suspension after being sent off in a match against Colombia back in June, is replaced by Alan Varela from FC Porto.
Argentina’s World Cup Journey
Earlier this year, Argentina solidified its position as a leading contender in the region by becoming the first South American team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, set to take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Their journey began on a strong note when they triumphed over Brazil with an impressive 4-1 victory in March. This match not only secured their qualification but also marked a historic moment, as it was the first time Argentina emerged victorious in both matches against Brazil during a World Cup qualifying round. Furthermore, it was their first home victory against Brazil since the 2006 qualifiers.
Upcoming Matches
The first qualifier against Venezuela will take place at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires, while the subsequent match against Ecuador will be held at sea level in Guayaquil.
Messi’s Fitness Concerns
Messi, who recently returned to play for Inter Miami after recovering from a right leg muscle injury, demonstrated his prowess on the field by scoring a goal and assisting Luis Suárez in a 3-1 win against LA Galaxy. Despite this, Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano expressed concerns over Messi’s fitness, noting that the star player had shown signs of discomfort during the match.
“He clearly wasn’t 100% comfortable,”
Mascherano remarked, emphasizing the importance of monitoring Messi’s condition as they approach the qualifiers.
Having scored in his past four game appearances for Miami, Messi is eager to contribute significantly to the national team after limited play in recent matches, which included a 1-1 draw against Colombia and a 1-0 win over Chile last June, and missing the March qualifiers due to injury.
