“If all goes well I’m going to continue being coach and his legacy will be there, which is the biggest thing he’s going to leave,” Lionel Scaloni said.
The Argentina national football team canceled its planned trip to Asia for the November FIFA window, marking the squad’s first matches without Lionel Messi. The Asociación del Fútbol Argentino scrapped the original itinerary, leaving Lionel Scaloni’s side to restructure its end-of-year schedule closer to home.
November International Window Shifts to Domestic Soil
The Albiceleste will close out the year with fixtures played inside Argentina between November 9 and 17, with the window allowing teams to schedule up to three friendly matches.
Logistical hurdles and shifting market economics drove the decision. Without Lionel Messi wearing the Albiceleste shirt, foreign markets are not as interested in playing against the team, and the appearance fee for the AFA dropped considerably compared to previous tours when the captain allowed for the collection of large sums of money. Staying local eliminates intercontinental travel.
La Plata and Regional Venues Emerge as Potential Host Sites
Negotiations are underway to lock in opponents forтура the upcoming window. The primary fixture under consideration is a clash against Uruguay at the Estadio Único Diego Armando Maradona – Tricampeones del Mundo in La Plata, a venue the AFA aims to establish as the home of the national teams. Renovation work at the stadium began in September 2025 under an agreement between Claudio Tapia and Buenos Aires Province Axel Kicillof. The ground was officially renamed in October 2025 and is also scheduled to host the Clausura 2026 final on December 12. The venue had ceased to be used regularly in 2019 when Estudiantes returned to its home ground at the renovated UNO.
For the second fixture, alternative plans include a potential rematch against Uruguay in Montevideo, another match in La Plata, or an appearance in a provincial city. Rosario has emerged as a preferred option for the coach, who wants to play in that city. Meanwhile, Costa Rica is positioned as another prospective opponent for the November window, with reports from journalist Kevin Jiménez indicating that the Ticos have it defined that they will face Argentina in one of the November friendlies, alongside a match against Marcelo Gallardo’s Ecuador.
Squad Renewal Under Scaloni in the Post-Messi Era
Lionel Scaloni faces the task of rebuilding a competitive unit from the core of the 2026 World Cup runners-up. Following recent matches against Bolivia, Burkina Faso, and Benín—the latter serving as the farewell of Lionel Messi at the Estadio Monumental—the coaching staff intends to evaluate younger players and emerging prospects, ensuring the squad gets flight hours so the coaching staff can draw conclusions for future challenges.
New kids came in who gave us freshness and things we didn’t have, like playing out wide. That’s a good alternative and we are happy,
Scaloni said. Addressing the tactical void left by his former captain, the coach emphasized a collective approach. The only way to compensate for it is with a great team. We have great players, but not one who can make that exact leap. I think together we can supplant him.
Schedule Confirmation and Next Checkpoints
The AFA has yet to release official confirmation regarding exact dates or finalized opponents for the November fixtures. As negotiations proceed, the governing body must finalize the calendar before the international window opens on November 9. In November we don’t have many options. We are sorting through the teams that are free. It’s not that we can choose. It’s all closed, blocked. Surely we will go outside to play. Logically, I would like to face powerful rivals, but if not we always look for the positive side. There are not many variants,
Scaloni had said after facing Bolivia, Burkina Faso, and Benín.
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