Overview

• Speaking at an AFA event in Miami, Lionel Scaloni reflected on the 3-0 win over Venezuela in Buenos Aires as an emotional night Messi shared with his family.
• He said it surely was not Messi’s last game in the capital and that the captain deserves to return, keeping a future home appearance in play.
• Scaloni will delay naming the final 2026 squad to the last moment, pointing to late injuries in the previous World Cup cycle and ongoing player evaluations.
• Argentina has October friendlies in the United States, facing Venezuela in Miami on October 10 and Puerto Rico in Chicago on October 13.
• Additional tune-ups include November matches against Angola and a yet-to-be-confirmed opponent, while any farewell match in Argentina remains unannounced.