Argentina is set to play two international friendly matches this month, taking on Mauritania and Zambia, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) confirmed yesterday. These fixtures form part of the national team’s preparations following their recent World Cup campaign.
Originally, Argentina were scheduled to meet Guatemala on 31 March in Buenos Aires. However, the match was cancelled after Guatemala were already committed to a friendly against Algeria in Italy on 27 March. According to Reuters, FIFA did not approve the Argentina–Guatemala fixture because international regulations prevent two teams from participating in separate continental fixtures during the same FIFA window. Argentine sports outlet TyC Sports reported that the match was therefore officially annulled.
The revised schedule sees Argentina facing Mauritania first, on 27 March at La Bombonera Stadium, home of Boca Juniors in Buenos Aires. The second friendly will be held at the same venue on 31 March against Zambia. The AFA stated that the match against Mauritania will allow the reigning World Cup champions to bid farewell to their supporters before travelling abroad. In a separate statement, the AFA confirmed that Zambia would be their opponents in the second friendly.
These matches follow a series of cancellations affecting Argentina’s schedule. Earlier, a Finalissima clash with Spain on 27 March was cancelled by UEFA due to conflicts arising from ongoing instability in the Middle East. Similarly, Mauritania had planned a friendly against Palestine in Morocco, which was also cancelled for the same reasons.
Facing African opposition marks Argentina’s third consecutive friendly against teams from the continent. In November of last year, Argentina defeated Angola 2–0 in another friendly match, demonstrating their continued strength and cohesion under coach Lionel Scaloni. Current FIFA rankings place Mauritania at 115th and Zambia at 91st.
The table below summarises Argentina’s upcoming friendlies:
| Date | Venue | Opponent | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27 March | La Bombonera, Buenos Aires | Mauritania | Farewell match before overseas travel |
| 31 March | La Bombonera, Buenos Aires | Zambia | Second friendly in the FIFA international window |
These fixtures not only provide a platform for Argentina to test tactical strategies but also offer opportunities to introduce emerging talent to the national squad. With both matches hosted in Buenos Aires, supporters will have the chance to witness the team’s ongoing preparations firsthand.
For coach Scaloni, these friendlies represent a crucial step in maintaining momentum and continuity after the World Cup, particularly against African opposition with contrasting playing styles. Success in these fixtures could help solidify Argentina’s squad depth ahead of future international competitions.