Lionel Scaloni announces Argentina 2026 World Cup long list

Argentina men’s national football team head coach Lionel Scaloni announced on Monday the list of 55 players that he’s considering for the 2026 World Cup squad. It’s only an initial draft that will need to be reduced to a 26-player squad by June 1. However, the list is important because any last-minute replacements due to injuries, fitness issues or other concerns must come from these initial 55 names. The roster includes 6 goalkeepers, 18 defenders, 15 midfielders, and 16 forwards, most of whom have already featured for the Albiceleste under Scaloni.  However, there are already some surprise absentees. Qatar 2022 champion forwards Paulo Dybala and Ángel Correa, and defender Juan Foyth, were not included in the list. Also absent are goalkeeper Franco Armani and forward Ángel Di María, although this was expected as both retired from the national team. Finally, Alejandro “Papu” Gómez will also not play in the next World Cup following his long suspension for doping. The team The list includes 12 players from the domestic league, while the remaining ply their trade either in Europe, the United States, or Brazil. While many players are either national team regulars or have featured extensively under Scaloni, the draft isn’t without some surprises.  River Plate’s young goalkeeper Santiago Beltrán or Boca Juniors’ promising midfielder Tomás Aranda are among the unexpected inclusions, along with others who have played under Scaloni but have struggled recently, like Chelsea’s Alejandro Garnacho or former River Plate wonderkid Claudio Echeverri. The remaining 22 players for the 2022 World Cup are on the list and could become the first back-to-back champions since Brazil’s squads of 1958 and 1962, if they’re able to win again.  The 2026 World Cup kicks off on June 11, and Argentina will begin its quest to defend its title on June 16 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas. They’ll face Algeria in Group J, alongside Austria and Jordan.