The Argentina under-19 national football team has finalized its official roster and adjusted its squad ahead of the upcoming 2026 South American Games in Santa Fe, Argentina, according to regional sports reports and official tournament disclosures. Head coach Diego Placente leads the 18-player Albiceleste delegation for the multi-sport regional showcase, which runs from September 12 through September 26, 2026, across the province of Santa Fe.
Preparations for the regional tournament ramped up at Newell’s Old Boys’ sports facility, where the under-19 squad held training sessions. The team enters the competition facing a demanding schedule against South American rivals in a tournament that serves as a vital stepping stone for upcoming international cycles.
Roster Adjustments and Late Changes
Squad composition faced minor disruption during final preparations when a late injury forced a personnel alteration. According to tournament registration records, Talleres de Córdoba defender Joaquín Salas entered the official Argentina squad as a direct replacement for Marcos Ortiz, who was ruled out due to injury.
Placente’s 18-player list balances domestic standouts with European-based prospects. The goalkeeping department features Demian Talavera of San Lorenzo—who logged minutes in the club’s Reserve division and participated as a sparring partner for Lionel Scaloni’s senior national team during training camps in Elche, Spain—alongside Tigre goalkeeper Máximo Leguizamón, a 1.90-meter prospect who previously traveled as a sparring partner to the senior squad at the FIFA World Cup.
Position-by-Position Breakdown
The defensive line showcases considerable physical presence and international flavor. Alongside the newly added Salas and central defender Fernando Closter of Independiente, Placente incorporated two European-based “europibes”: Nicolás Marcipar of Barcelona and Bruno Galassi of Lazio. Completing the defensive options are Boca Juniors full-back Matías Satas—who recently made his senior debut for the Xeneize—and Argentinos Juniors right-back Santiago Silveira, alongside Huracán defender Thiago Pérez Ferreira.
The midfield features a mix of creative distributors and box-to-box operators from both local academies and foreign clubs. Santiago Espíndola of River Plate joins Argentinos Juniors midfielder Facundo Carrizo and San Lorenzo player Uriel Ojeda. They are supported by regional standouts Leandro Olima of Atlético Tucumán and Ramiro Tulián of Belgrano de Córdoba, rounding out a balanced engine room.
In the attacking third, the Albiceleste rely on youth international contributors. River Plate forward Ian Subiabre anchors the frontline alongside club teammate Felipe Esquivel, Estudiantes forward Franco Domínguez, and Argentinos Juniors attacker Facundo Jainikoski, who enters the tournament with first-team experience after logging 23 appearances and scoring a goal for El Bicho.
Tournament Format and Schedule
The football tournament at the 2026 South American Games brings together under-19 national teams from across the region. Argentina’s campaign opens on September 16, 2026, with a group-stage fixture against Paraguay scheduled for 10:00 a.m. local time, followed by a clash against Uruguay at 2:00 p.m. the same day. Group-stage action continues through September 23, when the Albiceleste face Venezuela.
With roughly 7,000 athletes competing across 60 disciplines throughout the multi-sport festival in Santa Fe and Rosario, the football squad faces pressure to secure the gold medal. The event operates as a benchmark for Placente’s youth project following his previous campaigns at the under-17 and under-20 levels.
Fans and analysts can follow live tournament updates through official organizing committee channels and regional sports networks as the under-19 team pursues regional glory in Santa Fe.
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