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Argentina’s preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup are gaining momentum, with Lionel Scaloni’s side intensifying their efforts to defend their title.

The squad for the 2026 World Cup is taking shape as La Albiceleste aim to retain their crown and continue their dominance on the global stage.

Head coach Lionel Scaloni will travel to the 2026 World Cup with one of the most formidable squads in the tournament, as Argentina seek to capture their fourth World Cup title and become the first team since 1962 to successfully defend the trophy.

On May 11, Argentina announced a preliminary list of 55 players, signalling their intentions to be among the favourites in North America this summer.

The biggest highlight is the inclusion of eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi, ranked no.1 in FourFourTwo’s list of the greatest players ever. The Argentine captain is set to feature in his sixth World Cup, having already appeared in the last five editions. Scaloni confirmed cautiously that Messi remains part of his plans, which is a major boost for fans back home.

Defender Cristian Romero has also been named, despite recently suffering a high-grade partial tear of his right knee’s medial collateral ligament (MCL). Meanwhile, 33-year-old Emiliano Martinez, the most capped among six goalkeepers in the list, could be playing in his final World Cup.

The Premier League has a strong representation in this preliminary squad. Marcos Senesi earns a call-up following an impressive season, Alejandro Garnacho is handed an opportunity, and 2022’s Best Young Player Enzo Fernandez returns as one of the more experienced names this time.

Several young talents are also hoping to secure their final spots, including Nico Paz, Matias Soule, Claudio Echeverri, and Santiago Castro.

Goalkeepers selected include Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa), Geronimo Rulli (Marseille), Juan Musso (Atletico Madrid), Walter Benitez (Crystal Palace), Facundo Cambeses (Racing), and Santiago Beltran (River Plate).

The defenders are Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica), Nicolas Tagliafico (Lyon), Marcos Acuna (River Plate), Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid), Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur), German Pezzella (River Plate), Gonzalo Montiel (River Plate), Lisandro Martinez (Manchester United), Lucas Martinez Quarta (River Plate), Leonardo Balerdi (Marseille), Facundo Medina (Marseille), Marcos Senesi (Bournemouth), Agustin Giay (Palmeiras), Kevin Mac Allister (Union Saint-Gilloise), Gabriel Rojas (Racing), Nicolas Capaldo (Hamburger SV), Lautaro Di Lollo (Boca Juniors), and Zaid Romero (Getafe).

The midfield group includes Rodrigo De Paul (Inter Miami), Leandro Paredes (Boca Juniors), Giovani Lo Celso (Betis), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen), Guido Rodriguez (Valencia), Thiago Almada (Atletico Madrid), Nicolas Dominguez (Nottingham Forest), Giuliano Simeone (Atletico Madrid), Nico Paz (Como), Valentin Barco (Strasbourg), Emiliano Buendia (Aston Villa), Maximo Perrone (Como), Anibal Moreno (River Plate), Milton Delgado (Boca Juniors), Equi Fernandez (Bayer Leverkusen), and Alan Varela (Porto).

The forwards named are Lionel Messi (Inter Miami), Lautaro Martinez (Internazionale), Julian Alvarez (Atletico Madrid), Nicolas Gonzalez (Atletico Madrid), Alejandro Garnacho (Chelsea), Franco Mastantuono (Real Madrid), Jose Manuel Lopez (Palmeiras), Gianluca Prestianni (Benfica), Tomas Aranda (Boca Juniors), Santiago Castro (Bologna), Claudio Echeverri (Girona), Mateo Pellegrino (Parma), and Matias Soule (Roma).

Argentina’s group stage fixtures at the 2026 World Cup are as follows: June 16, 2026 – Argentina vs Algeria at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, United States; June 22, 2026 – Argentina vs Austria at AT&T Stadium, Arlington, United States; June 28, 2026 – Jordan vs Argentina at AT&T Stadium, Arlington, United States.

In recent friendlies and qualifiers, Argentina’s results have been impressive: March 31, 2026 – Argentina 5-0 Zambia at La Bombonera, Buenos Aires; March 27, 2026 – Argentina 2-1 Mauritania at Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires; November 14, 2025 – Angola 0-2 Argentina in Luanda; October 14, 2025 – Puerto Rico 0-6 Argentina at Chase Stadium, Fort Lauderdale; October 10, 2025 – Argentina 1-0 Venezuela at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens; September 10, 2025 – Ecuador 1-0 Argentina in Guayaquil; September 4, 2025 – Argentina 3-0 Venezuela in Buenos Aires; June 11, 2025 – Argentina 1-1 Colombia in Buenos Aires; June 6, 2025 – Chile 0-1 Argentina in Santiago; March 26, 2025 – Argentina 4-1 Brazil in Buenos Aires; March 21, 2025 – Uruguay 0-1 Argentina in Montevideo.

Argentina have been drawn in Group J for the World Cup 2026.

Under Lionel Scaloni’s management, Argentina have enjoyed a golden era of success, lifting three consecutive major trophies — Copa America, the World Cup, and another Copa America — breaking long-standing droughts in both competitions.

Scaloni’s selections have been supported by exceptional club-level performances from his players, and of course, by having Lionel Messi as the driving force of the team.

Very little remains to be said about Messi, who reached the pinnacle of football when he lifted the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, cementing his place among the sport’s all-time greats.

In September, Messi expressed uncertainty about playing in the 2026 World Cup, stating, “I said before the World Cup that I don’t think I’ll play another one. Considering my age, it’s most logical that I won’t make it.” Scaloni, however, has clarified that no final decision has been made by the 38-year-old, who has yet to confirm his intentions.

Messi, ranked no.1 in FourFourTwo’s list of the greatest players ever, has been instrumental in Argentina’s recent dominance, helping them secure back-to-back Copa America titles and the 2022 World Cup in between.

Written by Ewan Gennery, Freelance Writer

Written by Isaac Stacey Stronge, Freelance Writer