New Delhi, 12 May (H.S.): Defending champions Argentina have unveiled their 55-member preliminary squad for the FIFA World Cup 2026. The tournament, set to begin next month across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will see Argentina aim to defend their title. Team star and captain Lionel Messi has also been included in the squad.

However, head coach Lionel Scaloni has clarified that the final decision on Messi's participation in the World Cup will rest entirely with the Inter Miami star forward.

Meanwhile, star player Paulo Dybala has been omitted from this preliminary squad, surprising football fans.

Argentina have been drawn in Group J for World Cup 2026, where they will face Algeria, Austria, and Jordan. The team will kick off their campaign against Algeria on 16 June.

Argentina's Preliminary Squad

Goalkeepers:

Emiliano Martínez, Gerónimo Rulli, Juan Musso, Walter Benítez, Facundo Cambeses, Santiago Beltrán

Defenders:

Agustín Giay, Gonzalo Montiel, Nahuel Molina, Nicolás Capaldo, Kevin Mac Allister, Lucas Martínez Quarta, Marcos Senesi, Lisandro Martínez, Nicolás Otamendi, Germán Pezzella, Leonardo Balerdi, Cristian Romero, Lautaro Di Lollo, Zaid Romero, Facundo Medina, Marcos Acuña, Nicolás Tagliafico, Gabriel Rojas

Midfielders:

Maximo Perroni, Leandro Paredes, Guido Rodríguez, Aníbal Moreno, Milton Delgado, Alan Varela, Ezequiel Fernández, Rodrigo De Paul, Exequiel Palacios, Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister, Giovani Lo Celso, Nicolás Domínguez, Emiliano Buendía, Valentín Barco

Forwards:

Lionel Messi, Nicolás Paz, Franco Mastantuono, Thiago Almada, Tomás Avendaño, Nicolás González, Alejandro Garnacho, Giuliano Simeone, Matías Soulé, Claudio Echeverri, Gianluca Prestianni, Santiago Castro, Lautaro Martínez, José Manuel López, Julián Álvarez, and Mateo Pellegrino.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar