The Argentine Football Association has decided to extend the contract of the first coach Lionel Scalloni until the next World Cup in Qatar in 2022, after the support of the tango stars, led by Lionel Messi.

"Scalloni's continuation is what has been agreed upon," said Luis Cesar Menotti, the team's director-general Luis Cesar Minotti.

Scalloni's current contract was due to end in December but Tapia and Minotti discussed Scaloni's work and performance at the Copa America, which ended recently in Brazil, where the tango dancer was third.

Minotti and Tapia agreed that Scalloni would continue to lead the team during the qualifying for the 2022 World Cup, which begins in March 2020.

The players, led by the famous Lionel Messi, praised Scalloni's performance after Copa America and confirmed their support for the coach, although the team failed to win the title after the loss in the semi-final against Brazil.

The union announces the formal agreement on the continuation of Scaloni in the coming days, following meetings between Minuti and Tapia and crew members, according to press reports.

Scaloni, 41, took over from Jorge Sampaoli after the end of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, where the Tango team lost 3-3 to their French counterpart, who later became champions.