Argentina will play friendlies against Mauritania and Zambia in Buenos Aires at the end of March, in what will be the world champions’ final matches at home before the 2026 World Cup in North America.
The Argentine Football Association (AFA) confirmed that the team will face Mauritania on March 27 and Zambia on March 31, with both matches scheduled to take place at La Bombonera, Boca Juniors' stadium in Buenos Aires. Their normal 'home' venue in Argentina, River Plate's Monumental stadium, is unavailable.
The March 27 fixture had originally been reserved for the Finalissima against Spain, a clash between the European and South American champions that was due to be played in Qatar. However, the match was first suspended due to the outbreak of war in the Middle East and was later cancelled after UEFA and CONMEBOL failed to reach an agreement on an alternative venue.
Argentina had initially announced a friendly against Guatemala for March 31, but that match was also cancelled due to FIFA regulations that prohibit national teams from playing friendlies on different continents within the same international window.
Guatemala are scheduled to play Algeria on March 27 in Genoa, Italy, which made the Buenos Aires fixture impossible.
The Albiceleste will now close the international window against Zambia instead, in what will be the team’s farewell match in front of home supporters before travelling to North America to defend the World Cup title.
Coach Lionel Scaloni has also confirmed changes to the squad list following the announcement of the Mauritania match, calling up young forwards Franco Mastantuono of Real Madrid and Joaquín Panichelli of Racing Strasbourg. Neither player had originally been included in the squad announced earlier in the week.
The two friendlies will serve as part of Argentina’s preparations for the 2026 World Cup, where the reigning champions will compete in Group J alongside Algeria, Austria and Jordan.
The world champions, currently ranked second in the FIFA world rankings, will now face significantly lower-ranked opponents in the lead up to the World Cup. Mauritania place outside the top 100, in 115th, and Zambia are ranked 91st, making the matches clear preparation fixtures rather than high-level competitive tests.
– TIMES/AFP
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