Argentina's futsal Under-17 national team begin their South American title defence in Paraguay on Saturday. Santiago Basile's side will open against Ecuador at 2 p.m. at the SUMA Complex in Luque, in a tournament running until 16 August.
Argentina head Group B alongside Brazil, Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru. Group A brings hosts Paraguay together with Venezuela, Chile, Uruguay and Colombia in an opening phase made up of two five-team sections.
Argentina's schedule packs four matches into six days. After facing Ecuador, the team meet Peru on Sunday 9 August at 2 p.m., Bolivia on Wednesday 12 at the same time and Brazil on Thursday 13, again at 2 p.m.
Argentina arrive with the weight and support of a short but dominant history. They have won two of the three editions: a 2-1 victory over Brazil in the 2022 final was followed by another win over the same opponent, 2-0 in the 2024 decider, both in Luque.
Brazil took the inaugural 2016 edition by beating Argentina 4-2 in Foz do Iguaçu. The two countries have therefore contested all three previous finals and now share a group again in a tournament that can reshape this youth rivalry.
The top two teams in each group advance to the semi-finals on Saturday 15, with the final and third-place match on Sunday 16. Before looking that far ahead, Argentina's first task is to impose their game against Ecuador and maintain their focus through an opening stage with little room for lapses.
