On November 11, Lionel Scaloni announced the final list of the 26 players who will travel to Qatar with one goal in mind: to lift the World Cup for the third time, a milestone that Argentina last achieved at the legendary Azteca Stadium 36 years ago. years.
With the spotlight on the fifth and, in all probability, Lionel Messi's last World Cup, the albiceleste arrives in the Middle East with a 35-match unbeaten streak, during which they lifted the Copa América in Brazil 2021 against the host and the Finalissima against to Italy.
The Federation has chosen the grounds of the University of Qatar as the venue for an atypical World Cup, which will be played entirely in Doha and the outskirts of the Qatari capital.
Without traveling more than 70 kilometers, the national team bunker has already received Lionel Scaloni and the coaching staff, and awaits the rest of the footballers from November 14.
Six days before its World Cup debut, the Argentine team will play one last friendly match against the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday, November 16, in Abu Dhabi at 12:30 p.m.
Days and times of Argentina's matches in the World Cup
Group stage
The Argentine team will debut in the World Cup against Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, November 22 at 07:00 in the morning (Argentine time).
On paper, they are the most affordable opponent for the team in the group stage (they occupy position 52 in the FIFA ranking), a condition that could be added to find good feelings early in the tournament.
Four days later, on Saturday November 26, Argentina will face Mexico at 4:00 p.m.
If they score in both duels, those led by Scaloni could ensure their qualification to the round of 16 before the last game of the group stage against Poland, on Wednesday, November 30 at 4:00 p.m.
round of 16
The rivals of the two teams in the group that qualified for the round of 16 will come out of Group D, made up of France, Denmark, Australia and Tunisia.
In case of qualifying as the leader, Argentina will play on Saturday, December 3 at 4:00 p.m. against the second in Group D. If they pass second, the albiceleste will meet the first place in Group D on Sunday, December 4 at 12:00 p.m. .
Quarterfinals, semifinals and final
If the team sneaks into the top eight of the tournament, Scaloni's team will return to action on Friday, December 9 or Saturday, December 10 at 10:00 p.m.
His hypothetical rival in the quarterfinals would come out of the round of 16 matches between the qualifiers from Group A (Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal, the Netherlands) and Group B (England, Iran, USA, Wales).
If the team makes it past the quarterfinals, they will play on Tuesday, December 13 or Wednesday, December 14 for a ticket to the grand final.
In both cases, at 4:00 p.m.
Like every four years, reaching the semifinal guarantees playing a seventh game, the most a team aspires to during the World Cup.
Then the path forks dramatically: while the losers of this round will meet for third place on the afternoon of Saturday, December 17, the two best teams will decide the world champion on Sunday, December 18 at 12:00.