The Argentine national football team will begin training this Monday ahead of their debut in the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, in a double day where they will face off against Ecuador and Bolivia.

Those invited by Albiceleste coach Lionel Scaloni will begin training on Monday afternoon, behind closed doors.

On Tuesday, also in the afternoon, they have a training session, the last 15 minutes of which are open to accredited media.

As reported by the Argentine Football Association, Scaloni plans to hold a press conference on Wednesday, a day when training will take place behind closed doors in the afternoon.

Argentina will face Ecuador next Thursday in Buenos Aires, in a match that will be played at River Plate’s 84,000-capacity Mas Monumental stadium.

After that match, the ‘Albiceleste’ will train behind closed doors on Friday afternoon ahead of the match against Bolivia on September 12 at The Strongest Hernando Siles de La Paz Stadium, with a capacity of 41,000 people.

In addition to the renowned Qatar 2022 champion led by Lionel Messi (Inter Miami, USA), Scaloni also included Italian Fiorentina striker Lucas Beltrán in the call-up for these two matches; winger Alan Velasco, from the American FC Dallas; midfielder Bruno Zapelli and defender Lucas Esquivel, both from Brazil’s Paranaense.

The only loss is that of defender Marcos Acuña, who suffered an “injury to the biceps femoris tendon of the right leg”, confirmed by Sevilla in a statement from their medical team.

From 2026, FIFA has incorporated changes to its World Cup format, expanding to 48 the number of countries that will be able to play in the World Cup, which will be played in Canada, the United States and Mexico.

In the Association, they plan to play 104 matches, while before there were 64, in a period of 39 days, which includes the round of 16, which will mean that the future champions and runners-up must play eight duels instead of seven. (D)