The match of the South American qualifiers
The reigning world champions are set to begin defending their crown on the road to the 2026 World Cup in North America. Their first test comes at home as the Argentina national team hosts Ecuador at the iconic Monumental in a match that marks the teams’ debut in the South American qualifiers.
The kickoff is scheduled for Thursday, September 7, at 9 p.m., with a river-full stadium promising an electric atmosphere as fans gather to witness the opening act of a new qualifying campaign.
As the World Cup qualifying window opens, Argentina also has a date with Bolivia in La Paz next Tuesday the 12th. The coach, Lionel Scaloni, has called upon a mix of the squad that lifted the trophy in Qatar in 2022 and a crop of young players eager to prove their potential for the future.
Among the 28 players selected to defend the title, four are unavailable due to injuries: goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli, defender Marcos Acuña, forward Paulo Dybala, and midfielder Alejandro Gomez. Rulli underwent shoulder surgery in mid-August, while Dybala tore a muscle in the adductor area on the 26th. Acuña is sidelined, and Gomez is dealing with an unspecified issue. The injuries are a reminder that a World Cup journey is a long, grueling road, and every lineup decision carries weight.
Lisandro Martinez also faced a muscle problem in the lead-up to the FIFA window and was set to miss part of Manchester United’s recent fixture against Arsenal. He traveled with the squad to be assessed upon arrival, and in response, Scaloni added Facundo Medina to the roster to cover potential gaps in defense and squad depth.
On the topic of fresh faces, the coach surprised many by calling four newcomers: Lucas Beltrán, Alan Velasco, Lucas Esquivel, and Bruno Zapelli. Zapelli, previously part of Italy’s Under-21 setup, will now be integrated into the Albiceleste setup as part of a broader effort to infuse youth alongside established stars.
The squad list
Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martinez, Franco Armani, Juan Musso, Walter Benitez
Defenders: Nahuel Molina, Gonzalo Montiel, Juan Foyth, Cristian Romero, Germán Pezzella, Nicolás Otamendi, Facundo Medina, Lisandro Martinez, Marcos Senesi, Nicolas Tagliafico, Lucas Esquivel
Midfielders: Leandro Paredes, Rodrigo De Paul, Guido Rodriguez, Enzo Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister, Exequiel Palacios, Facundo Buonanotte, Bruno Zapelli
Forwards: Nicolas Gonzalez, Alejandro Garnacho, Angel Di Maria, Angel Correa, Lucas Beltrán, Julian Alvarez, Lautaro Martinez, Thiago Almada, Alan Velasco, Lionel Messi
THE TRAINING OF ARGENTINA VS. ECUADOR
After players from across the globe wrapped up their club commitments, the Argentina squad began arriving at the Ezeiza estate on Monday the 4th. The first arrivals came from England, Spain, and Italy, with others to follow in the hours ahead. Captain Lionel Messi was among the veterans expected to join late into the night or the following morning.
With barely more than 48 hours to prepare, the national team is anticipated to hold its first full training session once all squad members have gathered. Given the tight window, the coaching staff is likely to deploy a lineup closely resembling the one that started the memorable World Cup final in Lusail on December 18 last year, a testament to the trust in the group that delivered the title.
This approach aims to balance tested chemistry with the opportunity to evaluate new talent in a high-stakes environment, ensuring that Scaloni can balance experience and freshness as the qualifiers get underway.
Notes: the team’s path to North America continues to unfold as preparations intensify and the coaching staff weighs each decision with the long-term goal of sustaining a competitive national team on the global stage.