Argentina Seeks March 2026 Tournament Glory; Messi Returns as King!

Argentina will have a March international break after all, as they get set to face Guatemala on the 31st in a hastily arranged friendly to be played at Boca Juniors' La Bombonera. The defending World Cup and Copa America champions were meant to play in the Finalissima this month against Spain, but hostilities in the Middle East scuppered the trophy match that was meant to be held in Qatar. With no solution found for a rearranged date and venue that both national teams could agree upon, the game was cancelled and the federations left to fend for themselves in the final international break before World Cup rosters are announced in late May and early June.

Thus, Argentina scrambled to arrange a match against Guatemala on home soil. The Sporting News looks at what players could be called in by Lionel Scaloni, who will oversee the group one more time before making a final decision on who will represent the Albiceleste in their attempted title defense this coming summer. MORE: What the Finalissima is all about — and why it was cancelled Argentina roster for March 2026 match vs.

Guatemala While Scaloni was widely expected to call in a first-choice roster for the Finalissima, it's unclear what direction the head coach will go now considering the unforeseen circumstances of the March window after the match was cancelled and the Guatemala friendly secured. He could stay the course and bring in a strong roster of players to prepare for the World Cup, or he could leave his starting-caliber stars to rest and tinker one last time to give fringe players a chance to shine before the summer tournament begins. Argentina roster for March 2026 Below is a predicted 26-man roster for the Argentina men's national team in their upcoming friendly against Guatemala on March 31.

Caps correct as of the last match on November 18, 2025. Pos Name Club Caps GK Walter Benitez Crystal Palace (ENG) 1 GK Emiliano Martinez Aston Villa (ENG) 57 GK Geronimo Rulli Marseille (FRA) 7 DEF Marcos Acuna River Plate (ARG) 61 DEF Leonardo Balerdi Marseille (FRA) 11 DEF Juan Foyth Villarreal (ESP) 22 DEF Gonzalo Montiel River Plate (ARG) 38 DEF Nicolas Otamendi Benfica (POR) 129 DEF Cristian Romero Tottenham (ENG) 47 DEF Marcos Senesi Bournemouth (ENG) 2 DEF Nicolas Tagliafico Lyon (FRA) 74 MID Thiago Almada Atletico Madrid (ESP) 12 MID Emiliano Buendia Aston Villa (ENG) 2 MID Rodrigo De Paul Inter Miami (USA) 83 MID Enzo Fernandez Chelsea (ENG) 38 MID Giovani Lo Celso Real Betis (ESP) 5 MID Alexis Mac Allister Liverpool (ENG) 42 MID Nico Paz Como (ITA) 6 MID Exequiel Palacios Bayer Leverkusen (GER) 37 MID Leandro Paredes Boca Juniors (ARG) 76 FWD Julian Alvarez Atletico Madrid (ESP) 49 FWD Nico Gonzalez Atletico Madrid (ESP) 48 FWD Lautaro Martinez Inter Milan (ITA) 75 FWD Lionel Messi Inter Miami (USA) 196 FWD Franco Mastantuono Real Madrid (ESP) 3 FWD Giuliano Simeone Atletico Madrid (ESP) 9 Will Lionel Messi be called in for Argentina in March? It remains to be seen whether 38-year-old Lionel Messi will be brought into the Argentina squad for the March international window.