The Argentine National Team will travel to the United States with an expanded squad for the matches against Honduras and Iceland.
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While finalizing details to define the definitive list of 26 players called up for the 2026 World Cup, Lionel Scaloni has already decided that the Argentine National Team will travel to the United States with a larger delegation to play friendly matches against Honduras and Iceland.
The coaching staff's idea is to have around 30 players during the preparation leading up to the World Cup debut, a strategy aimed at both strengthening training and protecting against possible last-minute physical setbacks.
The experience gained before Qatar 2022 proved to be decisive for this decision. On that occasion, the injuries ofJoaquín Correa and Nicolás González forced urgent changes just days before the tournament began, with Thiago Almada and Ángel Correa joining on the fly. Therefore, this time Scaloni will seek to have alternatives already integrated into the groupand with competitive rhythm during the preparation on U.S. soil.
Among the names that would be added are several young players from Argentine football who have not yet had experience with the senior National Team. According to reports, River would contribute Santiago Beltrán and Joaquín Freitas, while Boca would have Tomás Aranda in the group accompanying the squad. Also joining would be Nicolás Capaldo, current center-back for Hamburg who also plays as a right-back, Ignacio Ovando, center-back for Rosario Central, and Simón Escobar, left-back for Vélez and regular captain of the U17 National Team.
Scaloni would call up Beltrán, Freitas, Capaldo, Aranda, Ovando, and Escobar for the preparation friendlies.
However, not all extra call-ups will have real chances of making the final list for the World Cup. According to regulations, only players who are part of the pre-list of 55 names previously submitted by the AFA can be included. Therefore, Freitas, Ovando, and Escobar will only be present as companions and sparrings.
The National Team will travel on Saturday to Kansas, a city that will serve as the base during the World Cup. There, they will begin training in preparation for the friendlies against Honduras on June 6 in Texas, and Iceland on June 9 in Alabama. In those matches, Scaloni will take the opportunity to observe variations, test players, and finalize any last doubts before submitting the definitive roster for the tournament.
Once at the most important football event, the Albiceleste will be in Group J, alongside Algeria, Austria, and Jordan. Their participation will begin on Tuesday, June 16 against the Africans at the Kansas City Stadium, then they will face the Europeans on Monday, June 22 at the Dallas Stadium, and finally close the first phase with their match against the Asians on Saturday, June 27, again in Kansas.
