If Argentina secures a spot in the 2026 World Cup, Lionel Scaloni is eager to give opportunities to less regular players and those who deserve a chance. The World Cup-winning coach wants to introduce fresh faces without making drastic changes to the team.
Scaloni believes in finding potential replacements for aging players while they are still performing well. He wants to ensure these newcomers get their chance to represent the national team when the time is right.
That opportunity might come soon. If Argentina avoids defeat in the next round of World Cup qualifiers or if Bolivia drops points, Argentina’s place in the 2026 World Cup will be confirmed.
In the recent two rounds, Scaloni didn’t have his preferred lineup. Injuries sidelined key players like captain Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martinez, Paulo Dybala, Giovani Lo Celso, Gonzalo Montiel, and Lisandro Martinez. Even Rodrigo De Paul, though part of the squad, missed the 1-0 win against Uruguay due to injury.
Defender Nicolas Otamendi, who captained the team in Messi’s absence against Uruguay, is now 37 — the same age as Messi. Leandro Paredes, like De Paul, has also turned 30. Apart from the three goalkeepers, there are several other players over 30 in the squad.
Change is inevitable, and Scaloni is well aware of that. The coach hinted that the process might begin soon.
“To bring in new players, someone has to be left out. But these players are not giving me any reason to make changes. That makes it difficult. However, at some point, it has to happen because everyone is getting older, and new faces will eventually come in. It’s hard right now, but it will happen,” Scaloni admitted.
“If Otamendi could always stay 30 or 35 and keep playing at this level! But at some point, he won’t be here anymore, and we’ll need to find his replacement. The same thing happened with (Angel) Di Maria; it will happen with Leo (Messi), with Paredes, and with De Paul. When I started coaching, Paredes was a young player. He is still playing, and you saw how much he gave today, but at some point, we’ll need to find alternatives.”
Scaloni made it clear that once World Cup qualification is secured, he intends to experiment with new players — much like he did last time. He wants to give enough time to those who haven’t had many opportunities so they can challenge their teammates for a spot.
“The idea is to give enough time to those who aren’t playing regularly and those who deserve a chance so they can challenge their teammates. Hopefully, it will happen,” Scaloni concluded.
