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The Argentina World Cup 2026 squad is shaping up ahead of La Albiceleste looking to defend their crown.
Naturally, Lionel Scaloni will head to World Cup 2026 with one of the best squads at the tournament, as Argentina look to win a fourth edition of this competition and become the first team to defend the trophy since 1962.
On May 11, the South Americans announced their 55-man preliminary sqelection – and it’s safe to say they will be one of the favourites to lift the World Cup in North America this summer.
The headline news is that eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi, ranked at no.1 in FourFourTwo’s list of the greatest players of all time, will have the opportunity to compete in his sixth World Cup, after appearing in the last five: Scaloni has been cautious to confirm that his captain will be making a return to his squad, so this is good news for Argentines.
Cristian Romero, meanwhile, is included – despite suffering a high-grade partial tear of his medial collateral ligament (MCL) in his right knee last month – while 33-year-old Emiliano Martinez may be playing his final World Cup, and is named as the most-capped of six goalkeepers in this longlist squad.
There are several Premier League players included in the 55-man selection: Marcos Senesi is rewarded for an excellent season, Alejandro Garnacho is given a chance, and 2022’s Best Young Player, Enzo Fernandez, is one of the more senior players this time around.
Exciting young prospects are looking to firm up places, too, with Nico Paz the standout, alongside the likes of Matias Soule, Claudio Echeverri and Santiago Castro.
Squad
Argentina World Cup 2026 squad: The March selection
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GK: Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa)
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GK: Geronimo Rulli (Marseille)
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GK: Juan Musso (Atletico Madrid)
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GK: Walter Benitez (Crystal Palace)
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GK: Facundo Cambeses (Racing)
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GK: Santiago Beltran (River Plate)
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DF: Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica)
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DF: Nicolas Tagliafico (Lyon)
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DF: Marcos Acuna (River Plate)
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DF: Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid)
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DF: Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur)
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DF: German Pezzella (River Plate)
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DF: Gonzalo Montiel (River Plate)
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DF: Lisandro Martinez (Manchester United)
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DF: Lucas Martinez Quarta (River Plate)
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DF: Leonardo Balerdi (Marseille)
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DF: Facundo Medina (Marseille)
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DF: Marcos Senesi (Bournemouth)
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DF: Agustin Giay (Palmeiras)
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DF: Kevin Mac Allister (Union Saint-Gilloise)
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DF: Gabriel Rojas (Racing)
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DF: Nicolas Capaldo (Hamburger SV)
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DF: Lautaro Di Lollo (Boca Juniors)
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DF: Zaid Romero (Getafe)
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MF: Rodrigo De Paul (Inter Miami)
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MF: Leandro Paredes (Boca Juniors)
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MF: Giovani Lo Celso (Betis)
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MF: Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool)
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MF: Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea)
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MF: Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen)
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MF: Guido Rodriguez (Valencia)
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MF: Thiago Almada (Atletico Madrid)
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MF: Nicolas Dominguez (Nottingham Forest)
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MF: Giuliano Simeone (Atletico Madrid)
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MF: Nico Paz (Como)
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MF: Valentin Barco (Strasbourg)
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MF: Emiliano Buendia (Aston Villa)
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MF: Maximo Perrone (Como)
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MF: Anibal Moreno (River Plate)
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MF: Milton Delgado (Boca Juniors)
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MF: Equi Fernandez (Bayer Leverkusen)
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MF: Alan Varela (Porto)
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FW: Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)
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FW: Lautaro Martinez (Internazionale)
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FW: Julian Alvarez (Atletico Madrid)
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FW: Nicolas Gonzalez (Atletico Madrid)
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FW: Alejandro Garnacho (Chelsea)
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FW: Franco Mastantuono (Real Madrid)
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FW: Jose Manuel Lopez (Palmeiras)
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FW: Gianluca Prestianni (Benfica)
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FW: Tomas Aranda (Boca Juniors)
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FW: Santiago Castro (Bologna)
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FW: Claudio Echeverri (Girona)
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FW: Mateo Pellegrino (Parma)
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FW: Matias Soule (Roma)
Fixtures
Fixtures
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June 16, 2026: Argentina vs Algeria, Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, United States
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June 22, 2026: Argentina vs Austria, AT&T Stadium, Arlington, United States
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June 28, 2026: Jordan vs Argentina, AT&T Stadium, Arlington, United States
Recent results
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March 31, 2026: Argentina 5-0 Zambia, La Bombonera, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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March 27, 2026: Argentina 2-1 Mauritania, Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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November 14, 2025: Angola 0-2 Argentina, Estádio 11 de Novembro, Luanda, Angola
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October 14, 2025: Puerto Rico 0-6 Argentina, Chase Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, United States
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October 10, 2025: Argentina 1-0 Venezuela, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, United States
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September 10, 2025: Ecuador 1-0 Argentina, Estadio Monumental Banco Pichincha, Guayaquil, Ecuador
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September 4, 2025: Argentina 3-0 Venezuela, Mas Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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June 11, 2025: Argentina 1-1 Colombia, Mas Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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June 6, 2025: Chile 0-1 Argentina, Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Pradanos, Santiago, Chile
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March 26, 2025: Argentina 4-1 Brazil, Mas Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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March 21, 2025: Uruguay 0-1 Argentina, Estadio Centenario, Montevideo, Uruguay
Manager
Who is Argentina’s manager?
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni holds the World Cup trophy aloft after victory over France at Qatar 2022. | Credit: Getty Images
Lionel Scaloni has led Argentina in an incredibly successful period for the nation.
He has won three major trophies in a row, Copa America, World Cup and another Copa America, ending their droughts in both competitions.
His team selections have been aided by some outstanding performances at club level, and well, having Lionel Messi at his disposal.
Argentina’s Star Player
Who is Argentina’s star player?
Lionel Messi kissing the World Cup in 2022 | Credit: Getty Images
Not much is left to be said about Lionel Messi. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner reached the summit of football when he lifted the 2022 World Cup, firmly cementing his status as one of the greats.
He cast doubt on his participation at the 2026 World Cup in September, saying, “I said before about the World Cup that I don’t think I’ll play another. Because of my age, the most logical thing is that I won’t make it.” Scaloni insists there has not yet been a decision from the 38-year-old, who still hasn’t addressed his exact intentions.
Messi ranked at no.1 in FourFourTwo’s list of the greatest players of all time, and has been a huge part of Argentina winning the Copa America back-to-back, with the World Cup sandwiched in between.
