Recalling his team’s experience on the road to winning the 2022 trophy, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said it’s unwise to be celebrating the teams they will face in next year’s group stage.The defending champions will take on Austria, Jordan and Algeria in Group J.Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria and Jordan | 2026 FIFA World Cup Draw “Remember what happened to us against Saudi Arabia?” Scaloni asked reporters jokingly. Argentina lost its 2022 opener 2-1 to Saudi Arabia before winning the final on penalties.”We will have to play our best at every match, so there’s no rest,” he said. We know it in our bones.Scaloni took part in the draw ceremony held at the Kennedy Center on Friday, where he presented the World Cup Trophy. He said that holding the cup in his hand again was a wonderful experience. It’s very moving to be able touch it again. It’s hard for me to explain.”Will Messi play at the World Cup?” Lionel Messi hasn’t yet committed to playing in the World Cup, but it would shock the world if he didn’t. He turns 39 during this tournament.Lionel Scaloni, the coach of Italy’s national team, said: “We just await his decision.” In principle, things are going well.”The 38-year-old star led Argentina to the top of the standings of South America’s World Cup qualifiers, but he hasn’t confirmed if he’ll help his country defend its 2022 title. “I’m going to take it one day at a time; being honest and trying to be realistic and feel good,” Messi in an interview with ESPN Argentina earlier in the week. This year, I felt great.The Inter Miami star said that playing in the United States would make it easier to consider playing at a tournament co-hosted jointly by the U.S. Mexico and Canada. The tournament starts in Mexico on June 11. City It would be Messi’s sixth World Cup.It’s a different time of year in Europe. We’re going to start a tough preseason in January and we’re going to have a lot of games in a row with the league and the CONCACAF Champions League,” Messi said.Messi and Inter Miami are preparing to face Vancouver in the MLS Cup final on Saturday.Reporting by The Associated Press. Want the best stories sent straight to your inbox every day? Follow leagues, players and teams to receive daily personalized emails! Create or login to your FOX Sport account.
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2025-12-06 03:50:43
