Overview
- Lionel Messi said he would like to play at the 2026 World Cup in North and Central America yet declined to make a firm pledge.
- He noted he could end up watching as a spectator if circumstances prevent him from taking part.
- The remarks were published on December 4 based on a U.S. ESPN interview, according to Kyodo’s Washington bureau.
- Regional papers including Nishinippon Shimbun and Hokkaido Shimbun carried the Kyodo report, with some versions behind paywalls.
- He will be 39 during the 2026 tournament after winning the 2022 World Cup and remaining a leading figure for Argentina.