Buenos Aires: Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni has named a 26-player squad for the FIFA World Cup 2026, which starts on June 11 in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Captain Lionel Messi heads the group and will seek a sixth World Cup appearance after recovering from a recent left hamstring injury picked up with Inter Miami. The 38-year-old remains central to the defending champions’ plans following their 2022 triumph in Qatar, where he scored seven goals and provided three assists. Argentina will prepare with friendlies against Honduras on June 6 and Iceland on June 9 before moving to Kansas City. Placed in Group J, the team opens against Algeria on June 16, then faces Austria and Jordan. Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martinez, Geronimo Rulli, Juan Musso. Defenders: Gonzalo Montiel, Nahuel Molina, Lisandro Martinez, Nicolas Otamendi, Leonardo Balerdi, Cristian Romero, Nicolas Tagliafico, Facundo Medina. Midfielders: Giovani Lo Celso, Leandro Paredes, Rodrigo De Paul, Exequiel Palacios, Enzo Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister, Valentin Barco. Forwards: Lionel Messi, Nicolas Gonzalez, Giuliano Simeone, Lautaro Martinez, Jose Manuel Lopez, Julian Alvarez, Thiago Almada, Nico Paz.
