The Argentine Football Association (AFA) has postponed the official announcement of the Argentina national team's friendlies for the September and October FIFA window. Two matches against African opponents, Burkina Faso and Benin, are being considered for the period running from September 21 to October 6.
The Albiceleste enters this international break in strong competitive form, sitting first in their 2026 World Cup group with 9 points from three wins in three games. Their recent form shows four wins and just one loss in their last five matches, though the last was the World Cup final against Spain on July 19.
Why was the official announcement delayed?
The AFA had indicated on Friday that confirmation of the friendlies would come at the start of the week, but it ultimately did not materialize. Logistical complexity is a key factor. Plans are for one match to be held in the country's Interior and another in Buenos Aires, as a tribute to the World Cup runner-up squad. A special tribute is being prepared for Nicolás Otamendi, who announced his international retirement after the World Cup.
The October 6 date is emerging as the option to close the FIFA window. Rosario was initially considered as a venue but was ruled out due to logistical demands from the 2026 South American Games. The Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes in Córdoba is the leading option for the Interior match, though the local calendar is congested. There, Boca and Racing are set to play a Copa Argentina quarterfinal on September 27, and Belgrano and Talleres a provincial derby in the Torneo Clausura on October 4.
Who would the opponents be and what about Messi?
The opponents in negotiation are Burkina Faso, ranked 62nd in the FIFA rankings, and Benin, ranked 93rd. This is a peculiar detail, as both African teams are scheduled to play each other on September 25 in Ouagadougou for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Most importantly, Lionel Messi will not play in either of these friendlies. Beyond his farewell to the Argentina national team on social media, it is anticipated he will have a final appearance (or final appearances) in front of the fans in a special match at some point, as Clarín reported.
The coaching staff, led by Lionel Scaloni, has already reserved players with their clubs with the mandatory 15-day advance notice, though the final squad list is not yet confirmed. Fans can track the squad's evolution on our squad page.
How do the 2026 World Cup sanctions affect this?
The aftermath of the World Cup final is still being felt. The AFA has consulted FIFA to have these friendlies classified as 'Category A', which would allow suspended players to serve their match bans. The pending suspensions include Leandro Paredes (10 matches), Nahuel Molina (8), Roberto Fabián Ayala (3), and Thiago Almada (1). FIFA's classification applies regardless of venue or opponent ranking, as long as both are full national sides from its 211 members.
Furthermore, due to sanctions imposed after the 2026 World Cup, Argentina must host these matches with a 50% reduced stadium capacity. This context adds to the team's impressive group stage performance in the World Cup, where they scored 8 goals and conceded just 1, achieving a +7 goal difference and a 5-point lead over Austria in second place. To check the full standings table, visit standings.
The date of September 25 appears as the most feasible for the first friendly in Córdoba, though a proposal exists to move the Copa Argentina match to Mendoza to free up the weekend of the 27th to the 29th. As details are finalized, the Argentina national team keeps its focus on continuity, with its next official commitment being a friendly on a date still to be defined within this September window.
