Thursday, 20th August 2026
Khabor Wala Desk
Published: 19th March 2026, 10:43 AM
Argentina have unveiled a 28-man squad for their upcoming international friendly against Guatemala, scheduled to take place on 31 March at La Bombonera Stadium in Buenos Aires. This match marks an important preparatory step ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, providing manager Lionel Scaloni an opportunity to assess his players’ form and tactical readiness.
Captain Lionel Messi will lead the squad, which also features established stars such as Julián Álvarez, Rodrigo De Paul, Emiliano Martínez, and Enzo Fernández. The decision to play this friendly followed the cancellation of the Finalissima against Spain in Doha, prompting the Argentine Football Association (AFA) to schedule this match as part of the team’s build-up to the World Cup.
Scaloni has introduced two newcomers to the squad: Tomás Palacios, a centre-back from Estudiantes, and Gabriel Rojas, a left-back from Racing. Returning to the squad is left-back Marcos Acuña, who missed the previous friendly. Several players are unavailable due to injury, including Giovanni Lo Celso, Lisandro Martínez, and Lautaro Martínez. Meanwhile, Nico Paz and Gianluca Prestinni have been called up to replace Franco Mastantuono and Alejandro Garnache.
| Position | Players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Emiliano Martínez, Juan Musso, Gerónimo Rulli |
| Defenders | Marcos Acuña, Leonardo Balerdi, Nahuel Molina, Gonzalo Montiel, Nicolás Otamendi, Tomás Palacios, Gabriel Rojas, Cristian Romero, Marcos Senesi, Nicolás Tagliafico |
| Midfielders | Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister, Maximiliano Perrone, Valentín Barco, Ezequiel Palacios, Leandro Paredes, Nico Paz, Gianluca Prestinni |
| Forwards | Thiago Almada, Julián Álvarez, Nicolás González, José López, Lionel Messi, Giuliano Simeone |
Argentina’s last competitive match was on 14 November against Angola. This friendly will be the only match the team plays before the 2026 World Cup, giving Scaloni a final chance to refine tactics and test combinations.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup begins on 11 June, hosted jointly by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Argentina will kick off their campaign on 16 June against Algeria in Kansas City, aiming to defend their prestigious title.
This friendly is expected to provide both players and management with crucial insights into squad depth, fitness levels, and strategic approaches ahead of football’s biggest stage. With a mix of experienced internationals and emerging talents, Scaloni’s side is shaping up to be a formidable contender at the World Cup.
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