Coach Lionel Scaloni is concerned about Argentina's future
Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has admitted that he is uncertain about the team's future following their defeat to Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. Reflecting on the loss, Scaloni said that rebuilding a squad capable of reaching back-to-back World Cup finals will be an enormous challenge.
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Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has admitted that he is uncertain about the team's future following their defeat to Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. Reflecting on the loss, Scaloni said that rebuilding a squad capable of reaching back-to-back World Cup finals will be an enormous challenge.
Scaloni took charge of Argentina after their Round of 16 exit at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. His appointment was met with widespread criticism across the country, as he had little experience as a head coach and was largely known for his role as an assistant. However, he went on to silence his critics in remarkable fashion.
Under Scaloni, Argentina won the 2022 FIFA World Cup and reached the final again in 2026. He also guided La Albiceleste to Copa América titles in 2021 and 2024. With two World Cup final appearances, Scaloni became only the second Argentina coach after Carlos Bilardo to lead the national team to two FIFA World Cup finals.
Scaloni's current contract with the Argentine Football Association expires in December. He revealed that he plans to meet with the federation's president before making a decision on his future. The Argentine coach said he has several ideas regarding the team's next phase and intends to discuss them before considering a contract extension.
The current Argentina squad features eight players who started both the 2022 and 2026 World Cup finals. However, Scaloni acknowledged that the time has come to begin building a new generation of players. While he remains committed to the challenge, he admitted that creating another team capable of consistently competing at the highest level will not be easy.