Enzo Fernández left out of Lionel Scaloni’s squad | OneFootball

The Argentine Football Association (AFA) has published the list of players called up for the Argentine National Team for the upcoming South American Qualifiers on the road to the 2026 World Cup, and Enzo Fernández is not included.

The reason for the Chelsea player's absence lies in the sanction he received after being sent off in the draw against Colombia at the Monumental. Eighteen minutes into the second half of that match, Fernández was shown a straight red card for a reckless tackle on Kevin Castaño, an action that earned him a two-match suspension from Conmebol.

Among the surprises were names such as Julio Soler (Bournemouth), Alan Varela (Porto), Claudio Echeverri (Bayer Leverkusen), and José Manuel López (Palmeiras), who will have his first opportunity with the “Albiceleste.”

In this way, Lionel Scaloni was forced to look for alternatives to strengthen that area of the field, and the choice fell on Varela, who is having a great season in Portugal with Porto.

The coaching staff's decision also responds to the need to renew options in the midfield. The former Boca player joins a list that already includes names like Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister, and Exequiel Palacios.

The absence of Enzo Fernández is undoubtedly a significant blow for the National Team, which loses one of its most talented and consistent players of recent years.

Even so, this opens up opportunities for new faces in the “Albiceleste,” on a path that not only aims to resolve the upcoming matches against Venezuela and Ecuador, but also to build a competitive squad with the 2026 World Cup in mind.

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