The Watergate Hotel is where Lionel Scalonithe coach of Argentina, will wait 2026 World Cup drawWhich will be held on Friday from two in the afternoon. (Buenos Aires time) at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington. The Bogatensi will become the attraction of the party, because it will be The person responsible for transporting the World Cup, Which the team won in Qatar 2022 under his leadership.
The coach traveled to the American capital, accompanied by Pablo Aimar, Matias Manna, and physical trainers Luis Martin and Juan Tamone, while Roberto Ayala waited for the group there, as he headed to participate in an Argentine Football Association event in New York on Wednesday. Scaloni alluded to his role in “returning” the cup to FIFA at the opening of the draw: “I learned about this matter a short time ago.” He added to the media: “It is a great joy to be in the World Cup draw again, with the highest expectations.”
A wintry weather day and the average American’s lack of interest, outside of football, are two traits Scaloni noticed upon entering the hotel. But the ease of going unnoticed disappeared before the wave of microphones and journalists questioning him. “Today we’re fine. The only thing I like is that.” We keep fighting and fighting as if this team hasn’t won anything. That’s what any footballer should do: keep trying to win. What worries me most is that the children arrive safely.. Compared to the previous edition (World Cup), I’m a bit calmer; In the previous process we made many calculations. Tomorrow, after the draw, we will do the calculations, but as long as many of us enjoy this moment,” he compared what happened in 2022 and how he expects the new challenge, now being the defending champion.
The four pots, speculation about potential opponents, and the desire to avoid EU teams that have to face the qualifiers, among them Italy, are issues that Scaloni prefers to dismiss. The experience he had in Qatar 2022 is the best support for him not to delve into multiple variables. “Of all the calculations we made in the last World Cup, not much happened. The most important thing is that to do something you have to face the best. In this World Cup, there are many good calculations. There are a lot of teams that can fight and In the end, there will always be strong competitors starting from the quarterfinals.. “It’s going to be complicated,” said the 47-year-old from Santa Fe, for whom the World Cup could be an appetizer. Finalissima Against Spain.
The confrontation between the two selected CONMEBOL and UEFA champions is scheduled to take place in March 2026, in the first FIFA window of the year, although Scaloni and his teammate… Luis de la Fuente They are not convinced. “It’s not discomfort. It could have been played sooner. We are waiting, we have no news. I traveled with Louis. He’s my friend, he gave me a training course in UEFA. “He doesn’t have absolute confirmation either,” he said.
Washington will be the center of football on Friday, but as an appetizer for the Argentines and from Miami, Capt Lionel Messi Reflected in an interview with espn About the World Cup, which will be held for the first time, three host countries: USA, Mexico and Canada. “It’s a group that will try again, that will leave everything and that will fight. Then, because of small details, you can be left out. The World Cup is very difficult; any team that can complicate things, they can leave you out. They can hit the post and go out, they can hit the post and go in. Or lose to a penalty. In the last two games we were lucky, even though we were far superior to both the Netherlands and France. We ended up going to a penalty shootout and then missed a chance. The monster. He paints (Emiliano Martinez), who made us win. But we might go to penalties and not win. “It is very difficult to win the World Cup,” Inter Miami’s No. 10 said, speaking with journalist Pablo Gonzalez.
Regarding being at the World Cup, Messi did not mince words: “We were talking and He (Scaloni) always tells me that he would like me to be where I should be. The Argentine captain said: “We have a relationship of great trust (they were teammates in the national team as footballers) and we talk about everything.” The current coach did not go off script when later consulted on the subject: “He will decide; We will accompany the decision you make. in principle, At the moment everything is going wellBut as he says: there is no time. It’s football and Although it seems like the World Cup is almost here, six months is a long time. Let’s hope he is okay and makes the best decision for himself and the national team. “He is very mature and has gained the ability to make decisions.”
In the conversation with journalists, Scaloni also pointed out two issues that concern the coaches as much as the hierarchy of the potential rival in the group: Logistics and climate. “In principle, the match will be played in close proximity, but since it is a very large country, some flights will have to be made by plane. Qatar will be unique: even for the fans it was more comfortable,” the man from Santa Fe answered, recalling that in 2022 transfers were minimal because the greatest distance between the stadiums was 75 kilometers, while short flights could be made in just 15 minutes. Regarding the weather and schedules, Scaloni was frank: “If it was like the Club World Cup, it could be worrying. I hope they correct thatBecause we already know that For the show, with that heat it’s difficult“.
Finally, the coach expressed his opinion on the possibility of expanding the list of players to 30 members. “The more the better: 23 seemed like a lot, then we went to 26 and it seemed like there were a lot, and given what the year was… then we have to deal with those who were left out,” he said. “If there are 30, I want to change 30, because excluding someone is complicated.”
The countdown has begun to determine who will compete with the Argentine national team in the World Cup, and for Scaloni, there are multiple scenarios that must be addressed in order to repeat the crown in Qatar in 2022.