The reigning FIFA World Cup champions return to action.
Argentina plays two 2026 World Cup qualifiers this week, starting with Paraguay in Buenos Aires on Thursday night. They face Peru in Lima on Tuesday.
Albiceleste won its first two qualifying matches last month, beating Ecuador 1-0 and Bolivia 3-0. Argentina now hopes to be level with Brazil in the CONMEBOL qualifying standings.
But will national team head coach Lionel Scaloni let captain Lionel Messi be at his mercy against Paraguay?
Will Messi face Paraguay tonight?
Messi is a member of the Argentina squad, but his availability against Paraguay is still unknown.
He was named as a substitute in the starting eleven.
The 36-year-old Messi scored in Argentina’s first qualifying match but missed the second game due to scar tissue issues. The issue has also caused Messi to miss five of six games with MLS club Inter Miami.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner returned to Inter Miami on Saturday, coming on as a 55th-minute substitute against FC Cincinnati.
Speaking to reporters, Scaloni said: “It is important for him to take part in another training session and I will talk to him to decide whether he will play, but I have to talk to him first and the most important thing is , I have to make sure he starts.” Wednesday.
“We have a game against Peru in four days and it’s difficult to say whether he can play or not, the important thing is that he feels comfortable. What gives us calmness is that if he is not fit, whoever replaces him will do as well.”
What time does the Argentina vs Paraguay match start?
The Argentina-Paraguay game is scheduled for Thursday at 7 p.m. ET.
Which TV channel is showing the Argentina vs Paraguay match?
The game will air in English on fuboTV and in Spanish on Universo.
Sixteen North American venues will host 2026 FIFA World Cup matches.
