No Messi as Argentina visit Ecuador for final World Cup qualifier round | OneFootball

The Argentine national team, without its star and captain Lionel Messi, will visit Ecuador this Tuesday as part of the final round of the South American Qualifiers for the World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada 2026.

The match will be held at the Banco Pichincha Stadium in Guayaquil at 8 PM, with Colombian referee Wilmar Roldán officiating. The broadcast will be handled by TyC Sports and Telefe.

The team coached by Lionel Scaloni recently defeated Venezuela 3-0 last Thursday, during the penultimate round of the South American Qualifiers. Already qualified for next year's World Cup and having secured the top spot a few rounds ago, the Argentine national team enjoyed the last performance of its captain Lionel Messi in the albiceleste jersey in the country.

Indeed, the Argentine star did not travel to Ecuador and will not be present in this final round of the South American Qualifiers where Scaloni plans to make several changes with the qualification and top spot already secured.

The coach will make four changes: central defender Leonardo Balerdi will replace Cristián Romero, midfielder Alexis Mac Allister will replace Franco Mastantuono, Nicolás Paz will replace Thiago Almada, and forward Nicolás González will take Messi's place.

Besides these four changes, the native of Pujato, Santa Fe, has some doubts: Nahuel Molina or Gonzalo Montiel at right-back, Nicolás Tagliafico or Marcos Acuña on the left side of the defense, Rodrigo de Paul or Exequiel Palacios in midfield, and in the attack, Giuliano Simeone, Julián Álvarez, or Lautaro Martínez.

Meanwhile, the team of Argentine Sebastián Beccacece recently drew 0-0 with Paraguay as visitors, during the penultimate round of the South American Qualifiers. 'La Tri' arrives at this final stage of the tournament in fourth place with 26 points, already qualified for next year's World Cup.

For this match against the Argentine national team, the former Defensa y Justicia coach will make four changes: in midfield, Moisés Caicedo, Alan Franco, and Gonzalo Plata will replace Ángelo Preciado, Pedro Vite, and Jordy Acivar, respectively, while Kevin Rodríguez would replace Kendry Páez in the attack.

Additionally, Beccacece has two doubts: Joel Ordóñez or Preciado at right-back and Jhon Yeboah or Nilson Ángulo in midfield.

These are the probable lineups and other details of the match

South American Qualifiers for the World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada 2026 – Round 18

Ecuador – Argentina

Stadium: Banco Pichincha, Guayaquil, Ecuador.

Referee: Wilmar Roldán (Colombia)

Ecuador: Hernán Galíndez; Joel Ordoñez or Ángelo Preciado, Willian Pacho, Piero Hincapié, Pervis Estupiñán; Moisés Caicedo, Alan Franco, Gonzalo Plata, John Yeboah or Nilson Angulo; Kevin Rodríguez and Enner Valencia. Coach: Sebastián Beccacece.

Argentina: Emiliano Martínez; Nahuel Molina or Gonzalo Montiel, Leonardo Balerdi, Nicolás Otamendi, Nicolás Tagliafico or Marcos Acuña; Rodrigo De Paul or Exequiel Palacios, Leandro Paredes, Alexis Mac Allister; Nicolás Paz, Giuliano Simeone, Julián Álvarez or Lautaro Martínez, and Nicolás González. Coach: Lionel Scaloni.

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