Argentina’s national team began their preparations for the upcoming World Cup 2026 qualifiers with a full roster of 26 players, despite facing several logistical challenges. The training session took place at the Lionel Messi Training Complex in Ezeiza, with the squad set to face Paraguay in Asunción and then host Peru at La Bombonera in Buenos Aires five days later.
The team’s preparation was slightly hampered by the absence of Germán Pezzella, who is sidelined due to a muscle issue. This adds to the loss of Nicolás González, who is recovering with Juventus in Turin. Despite these setbacks, Argentina’s coach, Lionel Scaloni, has gathered all the remaining players in Buenos Aires, including those who had travel delays.
Argentina faced difficulties assembling their full squad as several key players faced travel disruptions. The group coming from England, which included Cristian Romero, Facundo Buonanotte, Lisandro Martínez, Emiliano Martínez, and Enzo Fernández, encountered delays in Brazil, leading the Argentine Football Association to arrange a chartered flight to bring them to the capital. Additionally, the contingent from Madrid—Giovani Lo Celso, Julián Álvarez, Rodrigo De Paul, and Nahuel Molina—was delayed for over six hours before finally arriving.
The squad’s first training session took place in the afternoon, led by none other than captain Lionel Messi, who arrived in Buenos Aires early on Monday morning after flying in from Miami. With all 26 players finally present, Scaloni has begun preparing for Thursday’s critical qualifier against Paraguay at Estadio Defensores del Chaco in Asunción.
Messi, whose leadership has been instrumental in Argentina’s success, is expected to play a pivotal role in shaping the team’s approach to the World Cup qualifiers. Despite the travel disruptions, the squad’s unity and focus remained intact, with Messi leading by example on and off the field.
As Argentina gears up for their qualifiers, all eyes will be on Messi and his teammates as they aim to continue their strong form, building on their recent triumphs in the World Cup and Copa America. The team’s resolve and Messi’s presence on the field will undoubtedly be key to their success in these critical upcoming fixtures.