With the 2026 South American Games getting closer, the Argentina U-19 National Team already has its protagonists for the competition that will take place in Santa Fe. Diego Placente confirmed a roster of 18 players that mixes youth with experience in First Division and various prospects emerging from European football academies.
The tournament will have the Coloso Marcelo Bielsa de Newell’s as its main venue, where the Albiceleste will seek to win the gold medal in front of their fans. The competition will also hold special significance for the coaching staff, as it will serve as an opportunity to observe names that could be part of the process leading up to the next U-20 South American Championship.
Among the most notable players from the local scene is Ian Subiabre. The forward belongs to River, has accumulated 44 matches in the First Division, and is currently on loan at Tigre. His presence is not surprising as he is one of the players that Placente has been following for some time and was also part of the Argentine squad that finished as runners-up in the last U-20 World Cup.
Another prominent name is Matías Satas, a defender from the reserve team of Boca who recently made his debut in the top category against Gimnasia y Esgrima de Mendoza. His development in the youth divisions earned him a spot on the roster, and he will have the chance to gain international experience with the national team.
Stepping away from the Boca world, one of the players included that stands out the most is Facundo Guch. The midfielder from Newell’s is one of the key players in the team coached by Kudelka and will have the opportunity to compete in the South American Games on his home field.
The three European players on the list
The roster also includes three players linked to major clubs in European football. Nicolás Marcipar, a left-back from Barcelona, was born in Catalonia and is the son of Argentinians who moved to Spain for academic reasons. During his development, he went through the Argentine youth national teams and had already been called up by Pablo Aimar for the U-15 and by Placente for the U-17.
Alain Gómez Santillán is another of the call-ups who developed in the Old Continent. The goalkeeper from Valencia was born in Spain and has Argentinian and Venezuelan roots, which is why he was also on the radar of those federations. However, from his first contacts with the Argentine Football Association (AFA), he chose to represent the Argentine National Team and will now have a new opportunity to do so in Santa Fe.
The third representative of European football is Bruno Galassi, a defender born in Lleida, Spain, with family roots in San Genaro, Santa Fe. His training began in the Real Madrid youth system, where he played in the UEFA Youth League, before Lazio acquired his rights for four million euros last July.
When and against whom does Argentina play
The Argentine National Team will be in Group B, and their debut will be on Thursday, September 17 against Paraguay, at 10. Two days later, on Saturday, 19, they will face Uruguay at 14 and will close the group stage against Venezuela on Monday, 21, also at 14.
It is important to note that eight teams will participate in the competition, divided into two groups of four teams. The top two from each group will advance to the semifinals, so the margin for error will be slim for an Albiceleste that aims to reach the final stages while playing at home.
All the call-ups for the South American Games
Goalkeepers:
Alain Gómez Santillán (Valencia)
Máximo Leguizamón (Tigre)
Defenders:
Thiago Pérez Ferreira (Huracán)
Fernando Closter (Independiente)
