Lionel Scaloni confirmed as head of Argentina football team until 2026

Europe 1 with AFP 9:39 p.m., February 27, 2023

After leading the Argentina team to the World title in Qatar last December, Lionel Scaloni has been extended as coach until the next World Cup in 2026. "This Monday, in Paris", where they are for the presentation of the Fifa Best trophies, the president of the AFA "Claudio Tapia and Lionel Scaloni have met to finalize the extension of his contract as coach of the selection until 2026", announced the AFA in a statement.

"Continuity assured" titled the Federation at the top of its press release, while the Twitter account of the Argentine Selection announced "Confirmed: we will have Lionel Scaloni for a long time. We continue!"

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In office since 2018

At the head of the Albiceleste since 2018, Scaloni, 44, won the Copa America in 2021, then the "Finalissima" against the Italian European champions in June 2022. Above all, he led the Albiceleste to the roof of the world against France in the World Cup final (3-3, ap, 4 tab 2), on December 18.

His extension, which Tapia had anticipated on several occasions in recent weeks, is anything but a surprise.

"We said yes. I have no doubt that he will continue," said the president of the Federation a few days after the world title, while contractual details remained to be settled.

Initially interim, propelled to the helm of Argentina after the 2018 World Cup and the departure of Jorge Sampaoli, of whom he was deputy, Lionel Scaloni has conquered a place of legend alongside the greatest Argentine coaches, becoming the third to hoist the Albiceleste on top of the world, after César Luis Menotti (1978) and Carlos Bilardo (1986).

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Close to players

Humble, discreet, studious, reputed to be close to the players who appreciate him, Scaloni, a former international defender with seven caps between 2003 and 2006, has managed to give a bond to a team made up of seasoned stars (Messi, Di Maria) and youngsters that he himself brought out in recent years (Fernandez, Alvarez, MacAllister), with the Argentina under-20 team.

All while developing a rather slender game and keeping his team undefeated for 36 consecutive matches, one length from Italy's record (2018-2021).

The AFA also announced that the selection will play two friendly matches at the end of March against Panama and Curaçao.

The days and places of these meetings will be specified in the coming days, underlined the Federation.

These will be the first two games for the Albiceleste since winning their third star, and more than anything, an opportunity to celebrate the title with their supporters.

The celebrations on the return to Argentina after the World Cup had ended on December 20, several million people massed on the route of the team bus making it impossible to end the parade.

Messi's team ended up flying over the crowd in helicopters.