Lionel Scaloni
Argentina head coach since 2018 who led the country to the 2021 Copa América and 2022 World Cup titles.
Lionel Scaloni's second World Cup final in charge of Argentina ended in defeat on 19 July, Spain winning 1-0 in extra time, and his meeting with AFA president Claudio Tapia over extending his contract beyond December has been pushed into the 21 September-6 October window.
Last refreshed: 23 July 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
Can Scaloni build a title defence around a 38-year-old captain for one final tournament?
Timeline for Lionel Scaloni
Committed only to remaining as Argentina coach through December
2026 FIFA World Cup: Scaloni will only commit to DecemberMentioned in: FIFA opens prosecutor file on brawl
2026 FIFA World CupScaloni talks pushed to autumn window
2026 FIFA World CupExtended an unbroken run of semi-finals in every tournament managed since 2019
2026 FIFA World Cup: Argentina break 10-man Swiss side lateMentioned in: Messi and Ronaldo reach a sixth finals
2026 FIFA World CupBackground
Scaloni has managed Argentina since 2018, appointed on an interim basis before being confirmed permanently after an unbeaten run that stretched to 36 matches. His reign has delivered the 2021 Copa América, ending a 28-year national title drought, and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, won on penalties against France.
The 2026 tournament extended his record of reaching the closing stages of every senior tournament since 2019, a fourth consecutive World Cup semi-final and a second successive final, one Argentina lost this time rather than won. His contract runs only to December 2026, and no decision on an extension had been made when Tapia's meeting with him was pushed into the international window between 21 September and 6 October .
His selection choices have drawn scrutiny throughout, most visibly naming the 38-year-old Lionel Messi for a record sixth World Cup ahead of 17-year-old Franco Mastantuono , a call read in Argentina as favouring the known quantity over the emerging one for what is widely expected to be Messi's international farewell.