Khabor Wala Desk
Published: 31st May 2026, 5:51 PM
A total of 18 players from the Argentina national football team have departed the country on a chartered flight ahead of their World Cup training camp. The squad, managed by Lionel Scaloni, has selected Kansas City in the United States as its primary base camp, where preparations for the tournament will be conducted.
According to sports journalist Diego Monroig, the 18 players travelled together to join the camp. The remaining members of the squad did not travel on the chartered flight and are expected to join the team directly at the Kansas City base.
The Argentina squad is structured across all major playing positions, with players assigned as goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, and forwards. The travelling group includes a mix of experienced internationals and younger squad members.
| Position | Players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Gerónimo Rulli |
| Defenders | Nahuel Molina, Gonzalo Montiel, Cristian Romero, Leonardo Balerdi, Nicolás Otamendi, Nicolás Tagliafico, Valentín Barco |
| Midfielders | Leandro Paredes, Exequiel Palacios, Giovani Lo Celso, Enzo Fernández, Thiago Almada, Nico Paz |
| Forwards | Nicolás González, Julián Álvarez, Giuliano Simeone, José Manuel López |
In addition to this travelling group, several senior players are not part of the chartered flight. They are expected to arrive directly at the camp in Kansas City from their respective locations. These players include Lionel Messi, Emiliano Martínez, Lautaro Martínez, Alexis Mac Allister, Rodrigo De Paul, Lisandro Martínez, Juan Musso, and Facundo Medina.
The team is scheduled to begin its main training programme on 1 June at the Sporting Kansas City facility, the Compass Minerals National Performance Center. The venue will serve as the central hub for Argentina’s preparations, providing infrastructure for tactical sessions, physical conditioning, and team coordination work.
Ahead of the tournament, Argentina will also play two official friendly matches. The first fixture is scheduled for 6 June in Texas against Honduras, followed by a second match on 9 June in Alabama against Iceland. These matches are part of the team’s preparation schedule before competitive action begins.
Argentina’s World Cup campaign is set to begin on 16 June at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. The opening match will be played against Algeria, marking the start of the team’s title defence as the reigning champions.
Comments