Argentina lineup were back on World Cup duty on Tuesday, as their bid to defend the title starts in South American qualifying.
Captain Lionel Messi didn’t participate in the practice, which he watched from one side of the playing field while drinking mate, a typical South American infusion, with Argentina Football Association president ‘Chiqui’ Tapia.
La Albiceleste will face Moisés Caicedo’s Ecuador on Thursday at the Monumental Stadium in its first official match since winning the World Cup in December.
The star arrived this Tuesday morning from the United States after the victory of Inter Miami on Sunday night in Los Angeles for the MLS and the coaching staff gave him rest.
The last time a World Cup winner played in South American qualifying was in 2003, when Brazil had to secure its spot in a tournament with 32 teams.
The 2026 edition in the United States, Mexico and Canada is expanding to a 48-team format, which means the number of direct spots from South America increases from four to six and the seventh-place team goes into an intercontinental playoff for another place.
The Argentina squad will be laden with World Cup winners, with the 36-year-old Messi joined by the likes of goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, defender Nicolás Otamendi, midfielder Enzo Fernández and striker Julián Álvarez.
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Messi is going to assist some goals for Alvarez