Argentina Announce 26-Man Squad for 2026 World Cup

Scaloni names Argentina squad for 2026 World Cup defense  

Defending champions Argentina confirm their World Cup roster with Messi, Martinez, and Fernandez included. Group J opponents are Algeria, Austria, and Jordan.

Lionel Messi headlines Argentina’s final squad for the 2026 World Cup. Scaloni keeps most of the 2022 core and adds young talents for the title defense...

Argentina have named their 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup, releasing the final list late Thursday night. Head coach Lionel Scaloni will take the defending champions into the tournament with a mix of experienced names and new faces.

 

Lionel Messi will lead the side in what he’s said will be his sixth and final World Cup. He’s joined by veteran defender Nicolas Otamendi, who recently left Benfica after six seasons and is set to join River Plate ahead of the tournament.

Gianluca Prestianni and Alan Varela didn’t make the final cut. The 20-year-old Benfica winger, who has one cap for Argentina, and Porto midfielder Alan Varela, 24, with two senior appearances, were both in the provisional 55-man squad but missed out on the final 26.

For Prestianni, selection would have meant missing Argentina’s first two World Cup games due to suspension. He was banned for homophobic abuse directed at Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior during a Champions League match at Benfica’s Estadio da Luz in February.

Scaloni has largely stuck with the core that won in 2022. The squad still features Emiliano Martínez in goal, defenders Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Otamendi and Nicolás Tagliafico, midfielders Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister and Leandro Paredes, plus forwards Lisandro Martínez, Julián Álvarez and Messi.

He’s also brought in some fresh blood, calling up younger players like Nico Paz, Valentín Barco and Giuliano Simeone. One notable omission is Franco Mastantuono of Real Madrid, who didn’t make the final list.

Argentina were drawn into Group J for the 2026 World Cup, where they’ll face Algeria, Austria and Jordan. The tournament runs from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Mexico and Canada.

#SelecciónMayor Con toda la fuerza de los argentinos 💪🏻🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/84Lh03BgxH

— 🇦🇷 Selección Argentina ⭐⭐⭐ (@Argentina) May 28, 2026

Argentina Squad List.

Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa), Geronimo Rulli (Marseille), Juan Musso (Atletico de Madrid);

Defenders: Gonzalo Montiel (River Plate), Nahuel Molina (Atletico de Madrid), Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica), Cristian Romero (Tottenham), Leonardo Balerdi (Marseille), Lisandro Martinez (Manchester United), Nicolas Tagliafico (Lyon), Facundo Medina (Marseille);

Midfielders: Valentin Barco (Strasbourg), Giovani Lo Celso (Real Betis), Nico Paz (Como), Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea), Leandro Paredes (Boca Juniors), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Rodrigo De Paul (Inter Miami), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen), Nicolas Gonzalez (Atletico de Madrid), Giuliano Simeone (Atletico de Madrid), Thiago Almada (Atletico de Madrid);

Forwards: Lionel Messi (Inter Miami), Julian Alvarez (Atletico de Madrid), Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan), and Flaco Lopez (Palmeiras).