List of Argentina team: 4 surprises to qualify for the 2026 World Cup
The Argentina team will begin the 2026 World Cup qualifiers for South America on September 8 against Ecuador at Mas Monumental Stadium with a capacity of more than 84,000 people. The next match is on September 13 with a trip to Bolivia at Hernando Siles in La Paz.
In addition to the familiar names, Scaloni has added four young players who can be used by his colleague Javier Mascherano for the Under-23 team preparing for the Pre-Olympic including striker Lucas Beltran (22 years old), striker Alan Velasco (21 years old). ), midfielder Bruno Zapelli (21) and defender Lucas Esquivel (21).
One of the players absent from this call-up is Marcos Acuna, who suffered a muscle injury in Sevilla. Paulo Dybala also did not appear due to some muscle problems encountered at Roma. A similar case is Geronimo Rulli, who had to have surgery for a shoulder injury.
The Argentina squad also does not have two regularly called up players such as Joaquin Correa (just moved to Marseille) and Giovani Lo Celso (having physical problems).
Lionel Messi still leads the attack of the world champion, alongside Julian Alvarez (Man City), Alejandro Garnacho (MU), Angel Di Maria (Benfica), Lautaro Martinez (Inter), Nicolas Gonzalez (Fiorentina), Angel Correa (Atletico Madrid) and the new face Beltran.
Goalkeepers: Juan Musso (Atalanta), Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa), Walter Benitez (PSV), Franco Armani (River Plate)
Defenders: Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid), German Pezzella (Betis), Gonzalo Montiel (Nottingham Forest), Juan Foyth (Villarreal), Marcos Senesi (Bournemouth), Lisandro Martinez (Man United), Cristian Romero (Tottenham), Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica), Nicolas Tagliafico (Lyon), Lucas Esquivel (Atletico Paranaense).
Midfielders: Leandro Paredes (AS Roma), Rodrigo De Paul (Atletico Madrid), Guido Rodriguez (Betis), Facundo Buonanotte (Brighton), Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen), Bruno Zapelli (Athletico Paranaense), Alan Velasco (FC Dallas), Thiago Almada (Atlanta United).
Forwards: Lucas Beltran (Fiorentina), Nicolas Gonzalez (Fiorentina), Lautaro Martinez (Inter), Angel Correa (Atletico Madrid), Julian Alvarez (Ma City), Alejandro Garnacho (Man United), Angel Di Maria (Benfica), Lionel Messi (Inter Miami).
