With the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup concluded, both Brazil and Argentina have secured their spots in the tournament. The focus for these two football powerhouses now shifts entirely to World Cup preparation, and both nations will play two international friendly matches in October. Squads for these matches have already been announced.

Argentina’s October Friendlies

Argentina will use the upcoming international break to test players and finalise tactical setups, giving head coach Lionel Scaloni an opportunity to experiment with starting line-ups and strategies.

• 11 October: Argentina will face Venezuela in Miami. Venezuela did not qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
• 14 October: After a two-day interval, Argentina will play Puerto Rico in Chicago.

Scaloni announced a 28-man squad on 8 October. While the team includes several familiar faces, there are some surprises:

• Facundo Cambeses (Racing, goalkeeper, 28) – first call-up
• Lautaro Rivero (River Plate, centre-back) – first call-up
• Aníbal Moreno (Palmeiras, midfielder) – first call-up

These matches will help Scaloni finalise his squad and test tactical approaches ahead of the World Cup.

Brazil’s October Friendlies

Similarly, Brazil will play two friendlies to assess players and prepare for the World Cup, under coach Carlo Ancelotti.

• 10 October: Brazil will face South Korea in Seoul.
• 14 October: After a three-day break, Brazil will play Japan in Tokyo.

Ancelotti announced a 26-man squad on 1 October. Neymar has been left out, while Rodrigo and Vinícius Júnior return to the national team.

Purpose of the Friendlies

Both Brazil and Argentina will use these matches to:

• Prepare players for the 2026 World Cup
• Test tactical formations and team dynamics
• Finalise selections for the tournament squad

These friendlies offer a final opportunity for both teams to gauge readiness before the world’s biggest football stage.