Argentina has unveiled a 28-man squad for their upcoming friendly against Guatemala. The match is scheduled to take place at the iconic La Bombonera Stadium in Buenos Aires on 31 March, marking the national team’s return to the pitch under head coach Lionel Scaloni.
Lionel Messi will captain the side, leading a team that features a host of world-class stars, including Julian Alvarez, Rodrigo De Paul, Emiliano Martinez, and Enzo Fernandez. The Argentine Football Association (AFA) opted to organise this friendly following the cancellation of the Finalissima match against Spain in Doha, providing an important opportunity to fine-tune the squad ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Scaloni’s squad also welcomes two new faces: Estudiantes centre-back Tomas Palacios and Racing Club left-back Gabriel Rojas. After their last international outing on 14 November against Angola, Argentina have recalled left-back Marcos Acuña, who had missed that fixture.
Several players were sidelined due to injury, including Giovanni Lo Celso, Lisandro Martinez, and Lautaro Martinez. In their place, Scaloni has called up Nico Paz and Gianluca Prestianni. These adjustments ensure that the team maintains a balanced blend of experience and youth, while allowing the coach to evaluate new talents ahead of the World Cup.
Argentina Squad for Guatemala Friendly
| Position | Players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Emiliano Martinez, Juan Musso, Geronimo Rulli |
| Defenders | Marcos Acuña, Leonardo Balerdi, Nahuel Molina, Gonzalo Montiel, Nicolas Otamendi, Tomas Palacios, Gabriel Rojas, Cristian Romero, Marcos Senesi, Nicolas Tagliafico |
| Midfielders | Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister, Maximiliano Perrone, Valentin Barco, Ezequiel Palacios, Leandro Paredes, Nico Paz, Gianluca Prestianni |
| Forwards | Thiago Almada, Julian Alvarez, Nico Gonzalez, Jose Lopez, Lionel Messi, Giuliano Simeone |
This friendly will be Argentina’s sole preparatory match before the 2026 World Cup. The tournament kicks off on 11 June, with the group-stage campaign beginning for Argentina against Algeria in Kansas City on 16 June. The 2026 World Cup will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, making this preparation match a key opportunity to assess player form, fitness, and tactical cohesion.
The inclusion of new talents such as Palacios and Rojas, alongside seasoned internationals, highlights Scaloni’s strategy of blending experience with youthful potential. The friendly against Guatemala is expected to provide valuable insights into how the squad might perform on the world stage, particularly in terms of defensive stability, midfield control, and attacking creativity under Messi’s leadership.