Argentina are beginning to organise their post-2026 World Cup cycle after losing the final to Spain. The immediate schedule contains no official competition: the first international window will run from 21 September to 6 October, and the last one of the year from 9 to 17 November. The AFA plans to arrange friendlies in both periods, although opponents, venues and kick-off times have not yet been confirmed.
The start of this phase will also be shaped by Lionel Scaloni’s situation. The coach’s contract expires on 31 December 2026, and he has said he will consider his future in December. The decision will be crucial in determining whether the same staff will oversee the renewal of a squad that must manage the transition after the World Cup and, eventually, the landscape left by Lionel Messi.
The route to the 2030 World Cup will be unusual: Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay have already secured qualification because each will host at least one match in the centenary edition. Even so, the three national teams may take part in the South American qualifiers, which are projected to begin in March 2027 under a format that Conmebol has yet to announce officially.
The hosts’ possible participation would be linked to a competition project between South America and UEFA, with European matchups determined by positions in the regional table. The plan remains under development. If the round-robin league system is retained, Argentina will have genuinely demanding matches even though their World Cup place is already guaranteed.
The next major confirmed tournament on the horizon is the 2028 Copa América. Argentina will have the chance to win a third consecutive continental title, but neither the host nor the final structure has been settled. It could also be the national team’s first major championship without Messi since the 2004 Copa América, increasing the need to develop new leaders.
The Finalissima remains another unresolved issue. The Argentina-Spain match scheduled for 19 March in Doha was cancelled because the conflict in the Middle East made it impossible to guarantee the delegations’ safety, and the federations did not agree on a new date and venue. A rescheduling before 2028 has not been decided. The September and November friendlies will therefore provide the first concrete steps in a cycle defined by major sporting and institutional choices.
