Captain Lionel Messi heads the preliminary list of those called up for the Argentina national football team for the 2026 World Cup in North America, as announced this Monday by the Argentine Football Association (AFA).
Coach Lionel Scaloni presented an initial list of 55 players, of which only 26 will make up the final squad that will be revealed at the end of May.
Messi and the world champion base continue
The list maintains the core of the team that won the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, with figures such as Emiliano Martínez, Cristian Romero, Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernández, Lautaro Martínez and Julián Álvarez.
Other world champions also appear such as Nicolás Otamendi, Leandro Paredes, Giovani Lo Celso and Marcos Acuña.
Scaloni also opted for a mix of youth and emerging talent with names like Giuliano Simeone, Claudio Echeverri and Franco Mastantuono, one of the great promises of Argentine football.
The most notable absences
Among the main casualties are Ángel Di María, retired from the national team, in addition to goalkeeper Franco Armani and Juan Foyth, who was left out due to injury.
Neither Paulo Dybala nor Ángel Correa were included, two absences that have generated debate among Argentine fans.
Argentina will debut against Algeria
The Albiceleste will begin the defense of its world crown on June 16 at the Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, United States, against Algeria, in Group J that also includes Austria and Jordan.
With Messi still as a football and emotional leader, Argentina will seek to become the first team to repeat the world title since Brazil in 1962.
