News of argentina football

Argentina stroll to pre-World Cup win over Honduras

Yesterday 11:19 Argentina cruise to 2-0 friendly victory over Honduras in Texas; Marseille central defender Leonardo Balerdi has been ruled out of the World Cup with a calf injury.

WORLD CUP 2026

Scaloni gives encouraging update on Messi fitness ahead of World Cup

05-06-2026 22:05 National team coach Lionel Scaloni says skipper could play "a few minutes" in upcoming friendly matches, likely one of the two.

WORLD CUP 2026 – PREVIEW

Injury-hit Argentina hope to reach full fitness at World Cup

05-06-2026 07:00 The composition of Lionel Scaloni’s squad clearly shows that he is ready to put his faith once more in the boys that took Argentina to glory in Qatar.

by Dan Edwards

WORLD CUP 2026 – PREVIEW

Defending champs Argentina look to make history at 2026 World Cup

03-06-2026 17:11 Title-holders hope to put AFA turmoil aside and overcome injury concerns at World Cup in United States, Canada and Mexico.

WORLD CUP 2026 – PREVIEW

Lionel Scaloni: Argentina among ‘10 or 12’ teams challenging for World Cup title

03-06-2026 16:18 National team coach lists 10 and 12 sides he thinks will be a threat at the 2026 World Cup.

WORLD CUP 2026 – PREVIEW

Argentina's 2022 World Cup winners recall ‘worst team talk in world’

03-06-2026 16:07 Argentina's players and coaching staff remember "the worst team talk in the world" – before the 2022 World Cup final against France.

WORLD CUP 2026 PREVIEW

Algeria, Austria and Jordan – a look at Argentina’s Group J opponents

03-06-2026 16:06 Albiceleste will face Algeria, Austria and Jordan at the group stage of the 2026 World Cup; Defending champions are the clear favourites to progress in top spot.

Football in Argentina

Boca Juniors confirm departure of head coach Claudio Úbeda

02-06-2026 22:54 Xeneize will renew head coach's contract when it ends on June 30.

WORLD CUP 2026

Nineteen players from Argentina's top flight heading to World Cup 2026

02-06-2026 09:32 FIFA will pay Liga Profesional clubs US$11,000 a day for each player called up for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico; River Plate will receive the most of the domestic clubs, supplying seven of the 19 footballers from Argentina's top flight for tournament.

FOOTBALL TRANSFERS

Otamendi becomes latest world champion to sign for River Plate

31-05-2026 09:18 "As a River supporter, it's a dream come true," says commanding centre-back as he completes his move back to Argentina.

WORLD CUP 2026 – PREVIEW

Loyalty could be fatal to Argentina's World Cup title defence, says 1978 champion

29-05-2026 10:39 Argentina are contenders but their chances will be undermined if Lionel Scaloni relies too much on the players who triumphed four years ago, says 1978 World Cup winner Daniel Bertoni.

WORLD CUP 2026 – PREVIEW

Argentina eye World Cup double ahead of Group J opener

29-05-2026 09:50 The Albiceleste arrive at the World Cup aiming to become the first team in more than half a century to successfully defend their title. But since winning the title in Qatar four years ago, they have not played a single European side.

WORLD CUP 2026 PREVIEW

Can Messi deliver again for Argentina at his final World Cup?

29-05-2026 00:37 It will be a record sixth World Cup for Lionel Messi, and the decision to delay his retirement is a relief for an entire nation.

World Cup 2026

Messi in, Mastantuono out – Argentina confirms 26-man squad for World Cup 2026

28-05-2026 20:10 Few surprises as Lionel Scaloni publishes his squad list for tournament in US, Canada and Mexico; River wonderkid Mastantuono out and no place for Buendía or Dybala; Youngers Nico Paz and Valentín Barco make the cut, along with Palmeiras striker ‘Flaco’ López.

World Cup 2026

Real Madrid star Franco Mastantuono left out of Argentina’s World Cup 2026 squad

28-05-2026 17:28 First big name culled by Lionel Scaloni as he whittles down squad list for Argentina’s defence of World Cup crown in the United States, Canada and Mexico; Coach plays down Messi injury fears.

WORLD CUP 2026

Scaloni eases fears over Messi injury ahead of World Cup

26-05-2026 22:04 Argentina coach says initial signs are “not so bad” after captain suffers hamstring issue, though several key Albiceleste players remain fitness doubts ahead of the tournament in North America.

WORLD CUP 2026

'Tired' Messi exits MLS game in injury scare ahead of World Cup

25-05-2026 08:30 Lionel Messi at the centre of an injury scare just weeks before the start of the World Cup.

Football in Argentina

Belgrano stun River Plate to win historic first league title

25-05-2026 05:59 Belgrano came from behind to beat River Plate, clinching the Apertura title and securing the first top-flight crown in the club’s 121-year history.

Football in Argentina

Belgrano chase history for Córdoba as River Plate revisit old wounds

22-05-2026 14:02 Belgrano will walk out at the beautiful Estadio Mario Kempes on Sunday hoping to become the first league champions in Córdoba Province's history – River Plate stand in their way.

by Dan Edwards

FOOTBALL IN ARGENTINA

Belgrano dare to dream as Liga Profesional play-offs deliver unexpected

14-05-2026 17:29 With Estudiantes gone, a new champion will emerge. The final four are a mixed group of familiar faces and surprise packages, but perhaps the most compelling story in this title race belongs to Belgrano.

by Dan Edwards

WORLD CUP 2026

Messi in as Scaloni names 55-man longlist for World Cup squad

11-05-2026 13:06 Argentina skipper leads a preliminary 55-man shortlist as Argentina prepare to defend their title at World Cup 2026.

GENDER, SPORT & SOCIETY

Poll shows women’s football growing in popularity and reach in Argentina

10-05-2026 11:46 New study reveals 30% of Argentines play football at least once a month, with one in four females taking to the pitch in past 12 months. The women’s game is developing, but growth has yet to translate into improved professionalism and sponsorship opportunities.

by Enrique Garabetyan

World Cup 2026

Anxiety, anticipation as World Cup one-month countdown begins

09-05-2026 23:11 A record 48 teams and millions of fans are set to descend on the United States, Canada and Mexico for the first ever World Cup co-hosted by three nations.

WORLD CUP 2026

Messi says ‘other favourites are arriving in better shape’ for World Cup

08-05-2026 17:43 Argentina skipper says title defence is possible but singles out France and Spain as stronger contenders ahead of 2026 tournament.

FOOTBALL IN ARGENTINA

Apertura play-offs arrive – and anything could happen

07-05-2026 13:35 One thing we learned last year is that the knockout phase has no respect for what clubs did earlier…

by Dan Edwards

FOOTBALL IN ARGENTINA

Paredes penalty ensures Superclásico seniority for Boca

23-04-2026 19:10 While there are few frills in this current Boca team, they are tough to break down. Leandro Paredes proved up to the challenge as Xeneize secure victory in Núñez and bragging rights over River.

by Dan Edwards

WORLD CUP 2026

Fifty days out, who is guaranteed to make Argentina’s World Cup squad?

22-04-2026 12:24 Coach Lionel Scaloni has the majority of his squad for the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico decided – a look at the problematic positions and how many spots are up for grabs.

Football in Argentina

Boca edge River with Paredes penalty in Superclásico at Monumental

20-04-2026 06:54 Paredes converts stoppage-time penalty in first half as Boca strengthen knockout push in tense Superclásico at Monumental.

Football in Argentina

As big guns misfire, the Lepra just keep marching on

17-04-2026 11:21 There is a new king in town, and it is none other than unassuming Independiente Rivadavia.

by Dan Edwards

SOCIETY

Maradona's birthplace repurposed as soup kitchen for hungry

14-04-2026 17:30 Diego Maradona's childhood home has become a soup kitchen and support centre for residents of Villa Fiorito, who receive clothes or a hot meal in the same courtyard where the late footballer grew up.

FOOTBALL IN ARGENTINA

Eduardo Coudet makes impressive start at River

10-04-2026 07:48 River are in the Copa Sudamericana for the first time since winning it in 2014 in Marcelo Gallardo’s first year in charge, a title which kickstarted one of the greatest coaching tenures in history. Now, his replacement would love to launch a dynasty of his own, with the cup as a launching pad.

by Dan Edwards

INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL

Argentina to play Honduras and Iceland in pre-World Cup friendlies

09-04-2026 17:56 'La Scaloneta' will face Honduras on June 6 in Texas and Iceland’s senior side on June 9 in Alabama ahead of World Cup kick-off.

FOOTBALL

Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni denies 'ugly' racism claims

01-04-2026 18:36 Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni says he had been punished "without evidence" following accusations that he racially abused Real Madrid forward Vinícius Junior.

INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL

Albiceleste win with ease – and learn little – in final pre-World Cup home friendlies

01-04-2026 12:08 After another set of meaningless matches – this time against Mauritania and Zambia – we are none the wiser over Argentina's chances of defending the title when they head up north in June.

by Dan Edwards

INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL

Messi on target as Argentina put five past Zambia in World Cup send-off

01-04-2026 10:36 Much improved performance from the world champions, but tougher tests lie ahead when the nation’s title defence gets underway in June.

International football

Messi to start for Argentina in World Cup send-off against Zambia, says Scaloni

30-03-2026 18:21 Lionel Messi will start for Argentina in a friendly against Zambia on Tuesday at La Bombonera – the reigning world champions' final game on home soil before they defend their World Cup crown.

INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL

Argentina take it easy on road to World Cup 2026 title defence

26-03-2026 15:02 Since winning the World Cup in 2022, the only notable sides the Albiceleste have faced have been Brazil, Colombia and Uruguay. Otherwise, the run of fixtures has been limited to friendlies against lower-level sides.

FOOTBALL – INTERVIEW

Tagliafico: Albiceleste must avoid ‘complacency’ at World Cup

25-03-2026 13:29 National team left-back says Argentina must guard against “complacency” as the defending champions prepare to defend their title at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

50TH ANNIVERSARY OF COUP

Football and memory: the dictatorship’s shadow on the game

22-03-2026 00:10 Fifty years after the 1976 coup, the sport continues a long struggle to uncover the fate of the disappeared.

by Dan Edwards

INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL

Argentina to now face Mauritania and Zambia in March friendlies

21-03-2026 11:14 World champions will play both matches at La Bombonera after the Finalissima against Spain was cancelled and a planned friendly against Guatemala fell through, due to FIFA regulations.

FOOTBALL & THE COURTS

Courts tighten grip on AFA over offshore funds probe

20-03-2026 18:11 Investigators seize documents from Viamonte offices as probe links TourProdEnter money flows to US$17m Pilar mansion allegedly tied to treasurer Pablo Toviggino.

INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL

Argentina to face Guatemala friend in place of scrapped Finalissima

17-03-2026 17:01 World champions will play Guatemala in a friendly – venue set to be confirmed – in place ofe the cancelled Finalissima match against European champions Spain in Qatar.

INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL

Argentina's 'Finalissima' clash with Spain cancelled, confirms UEFA

15-03-2026 18:38 The 'Finalissima' clash between Euro 2024 winners Spain and world champions Argentina set to take place on March 27 in Qatar has been cancelled.

FOOTBALL IN ARGENTINA

Boca Jnrs planning bigger Bombonera

13-03-2026 10:59 Venerable old home of the Xeneize is a daunting place to tread – and it may be getting even more so in the not so distant future.

by Dan Edwards

FOOTBALL

Is free-to-view football coming back to Argentina?

09-03-2026 18:18 Longtime football executive from Córdoba, Emeterio Farías, says that AFA will announce the return of “cost-free” television for supporters imminently – potentially including the top flight, though not for some time.

by Andy Ferreyra

Football in Argentina

Tapia places ace card as Argentina’s clubs cancel matches and strike

06-03-2026 09:57 Footballers are hanging up their boots in solidarity with the paymasters and rulemakers. The industrial action prepared in the coming days is almost unprecedented and a clear statement in these sensitive political times.

by Dan Edwards

AFA LEADERSHIP ROW

River Plate withdraws from AFA executive committee meetings

06-03-2026 09:09 Club cites lack of clear decision-making procedures and renews call for a 20-team top flight; Decision comes amid disputes over governance, league format and recent rulings.

Football in Argentina

River chooses Eduardo ‘Chacho’ Coudet to replace departing Gallardo

04-03-2026 15:00 New Millo boss Eduardo ‘Chacho’ Coudet says River must ‘reset and start from scratch’ at unveiling; Marcelo Gallardo's successor signs contract tying him to the club until December 2027.

AFA FOOTBALL PROBE

AFA legal case: The claims investigated by judges that put Tapia under pressure

28-02-2026 06:44 The courts are investigating football authorities for holding back money, its Qatar 2022 World Cup prizes and fraudulent financial movements; AFA chief Tapia has been summoned and slapped with restrictions on leaving the country.