Argentina Unveils Squad for FIFA World Cup 2026 with Messi at the Helm

Argentina's head coach Lionel Scaloni has announced the 26-member squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026, with Lionel Messi leading the team. Despite concerns over a hamstring injury, Messi is set to make his sixth World Cup appearance. The team will prepare with two friendlies before starting their campaign in Group J against Algeria. The squad includes notable players across all positions, aiming to defend their title won in Qatar 2022. Read on for more details about the squad and their upcoming matches.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 29, 2026, 08:52 IST

Argentina's Squad Announcement for FIFA World Cup 2026

The head coach of Argentina, Lionel Scaloni, has revealed the 26-player roster for the reigning champions ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026, which is set to kick off on June 11 across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Lionel Messi to Captain the Team

Lionel Messi, the team's captain, is poised to make his sixth World Cup appearance, despite recent worries regarding a left hamstring injury he sustained while playing for Inter Miami last week. At 38 years old, Messi remains a pivotal figure in Argentina's quest to defend the title they secured in Qatar in 2022. His outstanding performance in the last tournament included seven goals and three assists, significantly contributing to Argentina's success.

Preparation and Group Stage Matches

Argentina will kick off their preparations for the prestigious tournament with two international friendly matches. The team is set to face Honduras on June 6, followed by a match against Iceland on June 9. After these warm-up games, the squad will relocate to Kansas City to set up their base camp ahead of the tournament's opening match.

In Group J of the FIFA World Cup 2026, Argentina will start their campaign against Algeria on June 16, followed by matches against Austria and Jordan. This squad announcement is crucial as Scaloni continues to refine team combinations and evaluate player fitness in the lead-up to the global event.

Full Argentina Squad

The complete squad for Argentina is as follows:

Goalkeepers

Emiliano Martinez, Geronimo Rulli, Juan Musso.

Defenders

Gonzalo Montiel, Nahuel Molina, Lisandro Martinez, Nicolas Otamendi, Leonardo Balerdi, Cristian Romero, Nicolas Tagliafico, Facundo Medina.

Midfielders

Giovani Lo Celso, Leandro Paredes, Rodrigo De Paul, Exequiel Palacios, Enzo Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister, Valentin Barco.

Forwards

Lionel Messi, Nicolas Gonzalez, Giuliano Simeone, Lautaro Martinez, Jose Manuel Lopez, Julian Alvarez, Thiago Almada, Nico Paz.