Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has stated that winning another FIFA World Cup would be “very difficult, but not impossible”, as his side prepare for the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico with less than a month remaining before its commencement. He made the remarks during an interview with CONMEBOL on Friday, while also addressing the future of captain Lionel Messi.
Argentina won the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, ending a 36-year wait for the title, with Messi playing a decisive role under Scaloni’s management. Since taking charge, Scaloni has also overseen multiple major successes, establishing himself as one of the most successful coaches in the national team’s modern history.
Scaloni has already submitted a preliminary squad list of 55 players for the upcoming World Cup. He is expected to finalise a 26-player squad within the coming days.
Speaking about the demands of the tournament, he said: “The World Cup is very difficult. It is not only about playing well; many small details must be done correctly. As always, we will try again to win the trophy. Argentina always enters the World Cup aiming for the top position. It is very difficult, but not impossible.”
On Messi’s future, Scaloni avoided making any definitive predictions regarding whether this will be the forward’s final World Cup appearance. He said: “Being able to watch him play is something wonderful. Whether this is his last World Cup or not, everyone wants to see him play. I prefer to think that he will continue playing. Thinking otherwise would cause sadness, as happened with Diego.”
He also referred to former Argentina captain Diego Maradona, noting the emotional difficulty of contemplating the end of a legendary career. “Thinking that he will no longer play creates a sense of unease. That is why I prefer to focus on the present,” he added.
Since his appointment, Scaloni has guided Argentina to the 2022 World Cup title and two Copa América victories. Despite initial criticism regarding his appointment due to his relatively low profile and limited managerial experience at the highest level, his achievements have since silenced many early doubts.
He explained Argentina’s internal approach to preparation and squad management: “We do not leave anything to chance. What we tell the players is concise. We do not tell them everything, because we could overwhelm them. We only communicate what is truly important. We understand what players need because we were players ourselves. We maintain close communication with them.”
Argentina are placed in Group J for the upcoming tournament, alongside Austria, Algeria, and Jordan. Their campaign will begin on 16 June against Algeria.
Key details
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Lionel Scaloni |
| Captain | Lionel Messi |
| Tournament | FIFA World Cup (USA, Canada, Mexico) |
| Squad selection | 55-player preliminary list; 26-player final squad |
| Group | Group J |
| Opponents | Austria, Algeria, Jordan |
| Opening match | 16 June vs Algeria |
| Major achievements under Scaloni | 2022 World Cup; 2 Copa América titles |
Argentina enter the tournament as defending world champions following their 2022 triumph in Qatar, achieved under Scaloni’s management and Messi’s leadership, marking a continuation of a highly successful era for the national team.