Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has finalized the preliminary squad for the 2026 World Cup. The Albiceleste boss confirmed an initial list of 55 players, from which the final 26-man squad will be chosen to defend the title won in Qatar 2022.
The biggest surprise is the exclusion of six World Cup winners: Franco Armani, Juan Foyth, Ángel Di María, Ángel Correa, Papu Gómez, and Paulo Dybala.
Dybala and Correa were the most unexpected omissions. For Dybala, the Roma attacker endured a season marked by injuries and inconsistency, culminating in a recent knee operation that hampered his final stretch. He managed just 3 goals and 3 assists in 25 appearances—numbers far from his best. His contract situation adds uncertainty; it expires on June 30, and he told Sky that the match against Lazio was “probably” his last for Roma, as no club officials had contacted him about a renewal. That may have influenced Scaloni’s decision.
As for Correa, the former Atlético Madrid star posted decent numbers this season—18 goals and 13 assists in 48 games for Tigres—but it wasn’t enough to earn a call-up. The competitiveness of Mexican football may have worked against him, with Scaloni preferring Gianluca Prestianni in attack. Prestianni, if ultimately selected, will miss the first two matches due to a FIFA suspension following the Vinícius controversy.
Several key players arrive with fitness concerns, casting doubt on their World Cup availability. Cristian “Cuti” Romero, a defensive pillar, is recovering from a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee suffered against Sunderland on April 12. He will be sidelined for up to a month, leaving little room to prepare for Argentina’s World Cup opener against Algeria on June 16 in Kansas.
Other question marks surround Atlético Madrid’s players. Nicolás González has been dealing with muscle problems since the Champions League first leg against Arsenal. His recovery is targeted for mid-May, but any complications could leave him tight for the World Cup.
Julián Álvarez, a key figure alongside Lionel Messi, also finished the Champions League semifinal against Arsenal with a knock. He took a blow to his left ankle—an area already bothering him—and had to be substituted. Argentine journalist Gastón Edul confirmed there was no injury, and the change was a precaution after the impact.
Finally, Nahuel Molina is a concern. The fullback suffered left hamstring discomfort after the May 10 match against Celta Vigo. He will miss LaLiga’s final three games to focus on recovery, though the expected recovery time remains unknown.
