Buenos Aires, Argentina (September 1, 2023) – Lionel Messi will lead Argentina in its opening match of the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign on Thursday, September 7, 2023, against Ecuador at Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires.
Argentina the champion of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar - Image source: Reuters
Messi, who recently joined Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, is fresh off helping Argentina win the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. He will be looking to lead the Albiceleste to a second straight title in 2026, which will be hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
The match against Ecuador will be the first of two for Argentina in September. The team will then travel to La Paz to face Bolivia on September 12.
Argentina 2026 World Cup qualifying roster:
Goalkeepers:
- Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa)
- Franco Armani (River Plate)
- Walter Benítez (PSV Eindhoven)
- Juan Musso (Atalanta)
Defenders:
- Lisandro Martínez (Manchester United)
- Juan Foyth (Villarreal)
- Nicolás Otamendi (Benfica)
- Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid)
- Gonzalo Montiel (Sevilla)
- Germán Pezzella (Real Betis)
- Nicolás Tagliafico (Lyon)
- Cristian Romero (Tottenham)
- Marcos Senesi (Bournemouth)
- Lucas Espíndola (Atlético Paranaense)
Midfielders:
- Rodrigo De Paul (Atletico Madrid)
- Leandro Paredes (Roma)
- Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool)
- Enzo Fernández (Benfica)
- Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen)
- Guido Rodríguez (Real Betis)
- Facundo Fwonanoti (Brighton)
- Alan Velasco (Dallas)
- Bruno Suárez (Atlético Paranaense)
- Thiago Almada (Atlanta United)
Forwards:
- Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan)
- Ángel Di María (Benfica)
- Julián Álvarez (Manchester City)
- Nicolás González and Lucas Beltrán (Fiorentina)
- Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)
- Ángel Correa (Atletico Madrid)
- Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United)
