In Córdoba and Buenos Aires, Argentina’s next international window will carry more than the usual weight of friendly matches. The Argentine Football Association has opened talks with Lionel Scaloni over a new deal, beginning a process that could determine whether the coach remains in charge beyond the end of 2026.
Scaloni’s current agreement expires in December, and the question of his future has lingered since Argentina’s defeat by Spain in the World Cup final. After that loss, the 2022 world champion coach admitted he had considered bringing his spell with the Albiceleste to a close, before later making clear that he still feels motivated to continue.
Before meetings with Bolivia, Burkina Faso and Benin, Scaloni said he needed to sit down with AFA president Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia to discuss the conditions for a possible extension. “I want to be here, but there are many things that have to be discussed with the president,” he said, adding that any decision would be made public only once it had been settled.
A new chapter under discussion
The coach has said he needed time to absorb Argentina’s 2026 World Cup campaign, which ended narrowly short of another major title. His reflections have centred less on affection for the job than on whether the circumstances are right for a fresh cycle after a period that included the triumph in Qatar four years ago.
Managing Argentina has previously been described by Scaloni as a dream role. The talks with Tapia indicate that both sides are now examining how that role might continue, although no final agreement, contract length or formal renewal has yet been announced.
For now, Scaloni will remain on the touchline through the approaching fixtures. Argentina meet Bolivia in Córdoba on 30 September, then return to the Monumental in Buenos Aires to face Burkina Faso on 3 October and Benin three days later.
The Benin match is set to carry a particular emotional note, as it will mark Lionel Messi’s farewell appearance for Argentina. Scaloni said he played a part in ensuring that the captain could take part in the planned tribute, placing one of the defining figures of the team’s recent era at the centre of a window that may also shape the manager’s future.
