The Argentina national team’s second period of fixtures ahead of the World Cup in North America features a mix of young U23 players, returning faces, and a couple of players changing weight categories as they prepare for the road ahead.
With the title defense in mind, the world champions are closing 2023 in style. In the penultimate round of the 2026 South American qualifiers, Argentina will meet Paraguay and Peru on dates three and four, and head coach Lionel Scaloni has already locked in a broad roster for the upcoming matches.
The full schedule for Argentina en route to the 2026 World Cup
After launching the qualification journey with a solid win over Ecuador on home soil and a historic victory in Bolivia, the Albiceleste will host Paraguay at the Monumental next Thursday, October 12. Five days later, on Tuesday the 17th, they will travel to Lima to face Peru at the National Stadium.
As the team maps out the fixture list, Scaloni named an extended squad of 34 players. The group builds on the core that began in Qatar, while some veterans return and several Under-23 players reappear, set to work primarily under Javier Mascherano in preparation for Olympic qualifying in early 2024.
Among those who were part of the Lusail lineup on December 18 but are currently unavailable, five players stand out. Angel Di María remains sidelined due to an injury in a Champions League match with Inter. Angel Correa was also left out after spraining his knee in the classic against Real Madrid. The other three who know what matters and will not be present have long been out: Geronimo Rulli, Lisandro Martinez, and the exiled Papu Gomez.
On the return side, after missing the opening qualifier, Paulo Dybala, Marcos Acuña, Lucas Ocampos, and Giovani Lo Celso rejoin the group. Lucas Martinez Quarta also returns after more than a year, following a timely telephone discussion that helped reestablish his role.
Meanwhile, the standout development concerns the Under-23s: Carlos Alcaraz, Marco Pellegrino, and Facundo Farías earned their first national team call-ups. Lucas Esquivel and Bruno Zapelli remain in the mix, continuing to push for greater inclusion in the senior squad.
Lionel Scaloni’s squad for the Paraguay and Peru fixtures
Sagittarians:
- Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa)
- Franco Armani (River Plate)
- Juan Musso (Atalanta)
- Walter Benítez (PSV)
Defenders:
- Juan Foyth (Villarreal)
- Gonzalo Montiel (Nottingham Forest)
- Nahuel Molina (Atlético Madrid)
- Germán Pezzella (Real Betis)
- Cristian Romero (Tottenham)
- Lucas Martínez Quarta (Fiorentina)
- Nicolás Otamendi (Benfica)
- Marco Pellegrino (Milan)
- Marcos Acuña (Sevilla)
- Nicolás Tagliafico (Olympique Lyon)
- Lucas Esquivel (Athletico Paranaense)
Midfielders:
- Leandro Paredes (AS Roma)
- Guido Rodríguez (Real Betis)
- Enzo Fernández (Chelsea)
- Rodrigo De Paul (Atlético Madrid)
- Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen)
- Carlos Alcaraz (Southampton)
- Giovani Lo Celso (Tottenham)
- Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool)
- Thiago Almada (Atlanta United)
- Bruno Zapelli (Athletico Paranaense)
Forwards:
- Paulo Dybala (Roma)
- Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)
- Julián Álvarez (Manchester City)
- Lautaro Martínez (Inter)
- Facundo Farías (Inter Miami)
- Lucas Beltrán (Fiorentina)
- Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United)
- Nicolás González (Fiorentina)
- Lucas Ocampos (Sevilla)
Notes and context are provided for planning purposes as Argentina continues its road to the world stage with a strong blend of experience and rising talent.