One month before the start of the 2026 World Cup, Lionel Scaloni presented to FIFA the pre-list of 55 footballers from the Argentinian National Team for the tournament. The coach will have until May 30 to finalize the definitive list of 26 players who will defend the title obtained in Qatar. This list will be officialized on June 2 and, according to regulations, replacements due to injury are allowed up to 24 hours before the debut, as long as the substitute is part of this preliminary list.
Within the pre-selection, the core of the champion team remains, led by Lionel Messi and accompanied by key players from the cycle such as Emiliano Martínez, Cristian Romero, Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernández, and Julián Álvarez, although several arrive with physical discomfort or lack of continuity in their clubs, a situation that the coaching staff will monitor closely.
Beyond the established names, the pre-list generated buzz due to the presence of several surprises. In goal, Santiago Beltrán appears as sixth in consideration behind "Dibu" Martínez, Gerónimo Rulli, Juan Musso, Walter Benítez, and Facundo Cambeses. The young player is one of the few without prior experience in the senior team, but undoubtedly deserves consideration for his recent performances at River, which has several players on the list of 55.
In defense, unexpected alternatives also emerge. For the right-back position, where Gonzalo Montiel and Nahuel Molina are the main options, Agustín Giay, Kevin Mac Allister, and Nicolás Capaldo are also listed. Additionally, Lautaro Di Lollo, who has established himself at Boca, and Zaid Romero from Getafe were included, while the absences of Tomás Palacios and Mariano Troilo were surprising.
From midfield forward, Scaloni expanded the range with young players and those from the local scene. The xeneizes Milton Delgado and Tomás Aranda appear, who have been closely monitored by the coaching staff for some time, but are only now reflected in a possible call-up. On the other hand, Mateo Pellegrino, a forward from Parma who generates interest both in Argentina and Spain, is also included.
The list also includes players who had lost ground recently, such as Guido Rodríguez, Nicolás Domínguez, Aníbal Moreno, and Emiliano Buendía, along with young players looking to establish themselves like Alejandro Garnacho (absent from recent call-ups), Matías Soulé, Claudio Echeverri, Gianluca Prestianni, and Santiago Castro.
In contrast, one of the most notable absences is Paulo Dybala, who has not fully recovered after a knee operation. Other names that were part of the golden cycle of 2022, such as Ángel Correa or Alejandro "Papu" Gómez, as well as Ángel Di María and Franco Armani, who have already retired from the National Team, are also missing.
The pre-list makes the coach's plan clear: to maintain the structure of the world champion team while simultaneously progressing in a gradual renewal with promising players. Argentina will prepare in Kansas and will play two friendlies before the debut: on June 6 against Honduras and on June 9 against Iceland. The debut in the World Cup will be against Algeria on June 16, in a context where Scaloni would already have a base of around 22 players defined, while the last spots will be resolved among young bets, tactical alternatives, and experienced names.
The 55 members of the pre-list of call-ups for the World Cup
Goalkeepers
EMILIANO MARTÍNEZ - Aston Villa
GERÓNIMO RULLI - Olympique de Marseille
JUAN MUSSO - Atlético de Madrid
WALTER BENÍTEZ - Crystal Palace FC
FACUNDO CAMBESES - Racing Club
SANTIAGO BELTRAN - River Plate
Defenders
AGUSTÍN GIAY - Palmeiras
GONZALO MONTIEL - River Plate
NAHUEL MOLINA - Atlético de Madrid
NICOLÁS CAPALDO - Hamburger SV
KEVIN MAC ALLISTER - Union Saint Gilloise
LUCAS MARTÍNEZ QUARTA - River Plate
MARCOS SENESI - Bournemouth
LISANDRO MARTÍNEZ - Manchester United
NICOLÁS OTAMENDI - SL Benfica
GERMÁN PEZZELLA - River Plate
LEONARDO BALERDI - Olympique de Marseille
CRISTIAN ROMERO - Tottenham Hotspur
LAUTARO DI LOLLO - Boca Juniors
ZAID ROMERO - Getafe CF
FACUNDO MEDINA - Olympique de Marseille
MARCOS ACUÑA - River Plate
NICOLÁS TAGLIAFICO - Olympique de Lyon
GABRIEL ROJAS - Racing Club
