Argentina await FIFA nod to face Guatemala, seek plan B friendly | OneFootball

The friendly match between the Argentine National Team and Guatemala, scheduled for March 31 at the Bombonera, is still on but with a condition that has yet to be resolved. Doubts arose because the Albiceleste's opponent has a match planned against Algeria on the 27th of that month in Italy, which would violate a FIFA regulation prohibiting a country from playing two matches in different confederations during the same FIFA date. The AFA sought a solution and found one: they requested a special authorization from the world's top football organization and are now waiting for the go-ahead.

The argument used by the AFA to request the exception is the context created by this emergency fixture. The cancellation of the Finalissima against Spain in Doha, due to the war in the Middle East, left the National Team without its main match of the window. Added to this was the suspension of the friendly that was also scheduled against Qatar as a visitor.

With Lionel Scaloni's team having no commitments on the last date before the World Cup and the summoned players training in Buenos Aires, the AFA organized the match against Guatemala on the fly. The special permission requested from FIFA is based precisely on this exceptional situation: the suspension of the original match due to a war conflict. The organization's response has not yet arrived, and the AFA is waiting for it.

The Argentine leadership has already covered the scenario in case FIFA does not authorize the exception and the match against Guatemala falls through. There is a plan B in place, with an alternative opponent that could fill that spot.

And if the authorization arrives and Guatemala can play, that plan B would also come into action: the objective is to organize a second friendly for March 27, also at the Bombonera and against a CONCACAF opponent. Two matches, two dates, the same Boca stadium as the venue.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.