Overview
- Kickoff is Friday, November 14 at 13:00 Argentina time at Estadio 11 de Novembro in Luanda, the first Argentina match ever held in Angola.
- A public training in Elche drew more than 20,000 spectators, and Lionel Messi thanked fans in a social media post before the team’s flight to Africa.
- Lionel Scaloni plans to use the year’s final friendly to assess fringe and young options for 2026, with a projected XI featuring Messi, Lautaro Martínez and Gerónimo Rulli in goal.
- Several regulars are out: Enzo Fernández is injured; Nahuel Molina, Giuliano Simeone and Julián Álvarez did not complete travel health formalities; Leandro Paredes remained in Argentina due to physical issues.
- Angola presents the game as the centerpiece of its independence celebrations after stadium refurbishments, with local media reporting roughly $12 million in state spending and $1 tickets that sold out quickly and stirred domestic debate.