Argentina visits Ecuador in Guayaquil to end CONMEBOL qualifying after securing top spot and an early World Cup berth. Lionel Messi did not travel by choice to rest before club duties, Cristian “Cuti” Romero is suspended, and Lautaro Martínez was confirmed as a starter. Thiago Almada was designated to wear the No. 10 shirt in Messi’s absence as Scaloni rotates his lineup to evaluate options. Venezuela can clinch the repechage with a win over Colombia, or with a draw if Bolivia fails to defeat Brazil; Bolivia must beat Brazil and hope Venezuela does not win. FIFA’s revised intercontinental playoff will feature six teams in two three-team brackets in Monterrey and Guadalajara in late March 2026, while a proposed Argentina–Spain Finalissima in that window remains uncertain after Scaloni called the timing inconvenient.
