Scaloni shakes up player list ahead of last 2026 World Cup preparation game

Argentina’s men’s national football team head coach Lionel Scaloni announced the list of players called up for the team’s friendly match against Guatemala, in preparation for the 2026 World Cup. The announcement brought several surprises, with unusual names listed among the hard core of Scaloneta players. Perhaps the most surprising name is that of defender Tomás Palacios. The 22-year-old plays for Estudiantes de La Plata in the Argentine top-tier, while on loan from Italian giant Inter Milan.  The defender appears to have impressed Scaloni despite having played only eight games with the Pincharrata, where he’s shown quality with his touch and passing ability and composure beyond his years. Another local player who’ll have his chance with the Albiceleste is Racing’s Gabriel Rojas. At 28, the San Lorenzo and Peñarol man is hardly an up-and-coming prospect, but his performance with La Academia piqued Scaloni’s interest at a time when national team stalwart Lisandro Martínez is out with an injury. Others who make a surprise — even if not first — appearance are midfielder Máximo Perrone, wingers Valentín Barco and Gianluca Prestianni, and striker José López. The call-up for Prestianni, who’s facing serious racism accusations after a spat with Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr, comes as a big backing signal by Scaloni. It’s a similar case with López, who is in an intense race with Joaquín Panichelli for the third spot as a striker behind usuals Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez. Among the absences, that of former River Plate wonderkid forward Franco Mastantuono and Chelsea winger Alejandro Garnacho appear as the most notable, while defender Facundo Medina, often touted as Lisandro Martínez’s replacement, is also out. A light-weight preparation? The friendly against Guatemala, announced after Argentina confirmed it wouldn’t face Spain in the 2026 Finalissima as originally planned, drew criticism. Argentina Football Association (AFA) president Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia highlighted that the Albiceleste will wrap up its World Cup preparations at home, but fans took to social media to lambast him for choosing — yet again — an unchallenging opponent.  “I can round up 11 friends, can we schedule a friendly?” commented one, while many pointed out that other South American powers like Brazil, Colombia and Uruguay will take on European rivals such as France, England and Croatia in the lead-up to the World Cup. In fact, of the 12 matches Lionel Scaloni’s team has played since becoming world champions at Qatar 2022, none have been against a nation in the FIFA Ranking’s top 20, with rivals like Angola, El Salvador, Curaçao, or Indonesia. Argentina will face off against Guatemala at Boca Juniors’ iconic home, La Bombonera, on Tuesday, March 31. Tickets are expected to go on sale a week prior, and start at AR$90,000 (just under US$64).