Mascherano handed over a roster of 37 players to begin preparations, from which 21 will earn a spot on the World Cup squad.
The South American Sub-20 campaign proved challenging for the Argentina team. An early exit left many players without any ticket to the World Cup, which would be staged in Indonesia. In a surprising twist, FIFA granted Indonesia the hosting duties, and Argentina stepped forward to host as well as compete, after applying for the hosting rights and securing approval from the governing bodies of football.
Argentina Sub-20 World Cup 2023: when it starts, potential venues, qualifiers, groups, fixtures and results
With the tournament kicking off on Saturday, May 20 and running through Sunday, June 11, Argentina earned a place in the competition as the host nation.
The Argentina Football Association (AFA) has published a provisional list of 37 players invited to start training at Ezeiza. From this group, the final 21 who will compete at the World Cup will be announced on Wednesday, May 3. A large portion of the players compete domestically while others feature for clubs in Europe, including teams in the Premier League, Serie A and La Liga.
Although the list is public, it does not guarantee attendance. Since this is not a senior national team event and is not on FIFA’s international calendar, clubs are not required to release players. Agreements have been reached with domestic clubs for players from Argentina, but securing the release of players plying their trade abroad remains more complex.
Shortly after the list became public, Manchester United announced they would not permit travel for Alejandro Garnacho, who is needed by Erik ten Hag for the final part of the season after recovering from an ankle injury sustained in mid-March. Garnacho pressed for participation, yet the Dutch coach stood firm in his decision.
Javier Mascherano has been actively working across Europe to liaise with the called-up players. While meetings with several EU-based prospects occurred, not all negotiations went smoothly. In England, Garnacho was the only player granted permission. Facundo Buonanotte, who was injured during the South American campaign, is not on loan from Brighton and remains a subject of discussion as he eyes opportunities in international competition through a standout season. Another major target club, Real Madrid, reportedly refused to release Nicolas Paz from its reserves.
Positive news centers on Matias Soulé, whose future looks bright after Juventus signaled approval, suggesting he will likely be part of the 21-man roster. Other players with strong chances to secure permission include Máximo Perrone, Luka Romero, Mateo Tanlongo, and Franco Carboni.