Because Messi has to play for Inter Miami after this week, Argentina coach Scaloni has not yet announced the official list of players participating in the November matches in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in South America.
In the upcoming and final match schedule in 2024, the Argentina team has 2 matches against Paraguay (away) and Peru (home), at 6:30 a.m. on November 15 and 7:00 a.m. on November 20, respectively.
This is a very difficult time for Messi to return to the national team to participate in these two matches, because at the same time, Inter Miami Club is also going through key matches in the MLS Cup play-off round – the American professional soccer tournament, to compete for the most important championship of the season.
Messi can still play for both club and country, but due to age and physical effects from constant travel, he may have to choose Inter Miami as his priority during this period.
Furthermore, Argentina’s position in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in South America is extremely secure, as they are at the top of the table with 22 points after 10 matches, 10 points ahead of 7th-placed Bolivia (Intercontinental play-off position) and 11 points ahead of 8th-placed Venezuela. Albiceleste is firmly holding 1 of the 6 official tickets from the South American region to the 2026 World Cup.
Of the two opponents Argentina will face, only Paraguay (ranked 6th) is a tough opponent and also plays away, while Peru is second to last in the rankings. In the first leg, Argentina beat Paraguay 1-0 at home (Otamendi scored) and beat Peru 2-0 away, both with Messi scoring a double.
According to journalist Gaston Edul of TyC Sports channel: “In the upcoming competition, the Argentina team will have 3 returns in the attack line: strikers Paulo Dybala, Alejandro Garnacho and Marcos Acuna. They are only waiting for the recovery of Nico Gonzalez and midfielder Giovani Lo Celso.
Therefore, coach Scaloni will probably talk privately with Messi before deciding whether to call him back to the national team this November or not. This will also allow Messi to fully focus on his club’s goal of winning the MLS Cup.
If Messi and Inter Miami advance past Atlanta United to the MLS Cup Eastern Conference playoff semifinals, they will play a knockout match on November 26 or 27, according to the tournament’s schedule. The regional final is scheduled for December 3, followed by the MLS Cup final against the Western Conference champion on December 8 (Vietnam time).
