Overview

• Argentina host Venezuela on September 4 at the Monumental before finishing qualifying at Ecuador on September 9, with World Cup qualification already secured.
• Messi sits on 71 South American qualifying appearances and would surpass Iván Hurtado’s 72 if he gets minutes in both remaining matches to reach 73.
• He told Apple TV the Venezuela game could be his final official appearance on Argentine soil and said his family will be in the stadium for the occasion.
• Scaloni said he would have preferred not to play the Finalissima against Spain two months before the World Cup and criticized the Nations League for limiting South American–European matchups.
• The Finalissima is penciled in for the March international window but depends on Spain’s qualifying position, while Argentina plan an October U.S. tour and November friendlies in Angola and India.