In their first outing since falling just short of back-to-back world titles in July, Argentina return to action on Wednesday night in Cordoba to take on familiar CONMEBOL rivals Bolivia. Facing an opponent stuck in a troubling goal drought and holding a historically poor record in this fixture, Lionel Scaloni's side will be eager to shake off their World Cup heartbreak and launch their new cycle with an emphatic victory.
Venue: Mario Alberto Kempes Stadium
Local Kick-off Time: Sep 30, 2026 8.00pm
Click here to watch the match LIVE now! 🔴 ▶
Click here to watch the match LIVE now! 🔴 ▶
Argentina
Rebounding from Final Heartbreak & Historical Dominance
Before Ferran Torres’ extra-time strike in North America shattered their dream of consecutive world championships, La Scaloneta were riding an imperious 14-match winning streak. Returning to competitive action at the Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes in Cordoba, the Albiceleste will lean on a dominant head-to-head record that includes nine victories across their last 10 meetings against Bolivia.
Furthermore, Argentina have won their last three encounters against La Verde without conceding a single goal. While talisman Lionel Messi is with the squad, the Inter Miami star is not expected to play on Wednesday as his farewell appearance is saved for October 6. Nevertheless, even without their legendary captain on the pitch, Scaloni’s charges enter as overwhelming favorites.
Absentees, Veteran Core & Youthful Injections
Suspensions & Injuries: Midfield enforcer Leandro Paredes is serving a suspension following misconduct and violent behavior after the World Cup final, while Juan Foyth and Thiago Almada have both withdrawn from camp due to injuries.
Anchoring the Core: Newly appointed captain Cristian Romero will lead the side, joined by established spine members including Chelsea shot-stopper Emiliano Martinez, veteran center-back Nicolas Otamendi, and in-form forward Lautaro Martinez.
Debuts for Emerging Talents: Scaloni is expected to hand international debuts to several newly invited prospects. Roma’s Matias Soule and Santiago Castro spearhead this wave of fresh faces, alongside Leonel Flores, Tobias Andrada, Santiago Simon, Equi Fernandez, Valentin Gomez, Tomas Palacios, and Roman Vega.
Bolivia
Playoff Agony & Road Scoring Drought
Oscar Villegas’s men came agonizingly close to securing Bolivia’s first World Cup appearance since 1994, but a 2-1 defeat to Iraq in late March's interconfederation playoff ended their journey. While La Verde initially bounced back with wins over Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname, their momentum has deteriorated sharply over recent months.
The one-time Copa America champions arrive in Argentina on the back of three consecutive friendly losses to Scotland, Algeria, and Paraguay. Alarmingly, Bolivia failed to score in any of those three matches while conceding 10 goals unanswered. Currently sitting 75 places below Argentina in the FIFA Men’s World Ranking, pulling off an upset in Cordoba represents a monumental task.
Squad Health & Key Threats
Clean Bill of Health: Bolivia emerged from their recent clash with Paraguay without any fresh fitness concerns, providing Villegas with a fully fit squad to select from.
Prospective Debutants: Uncapped trio Rai Lima, Damian Medina, and Rodrigo Banegas are all pushing for their maiden senior appearances after remaining on the bench last time out.
Focal Point in Attack: Winger Miguel Terceros stands out as the team's primary offensive weapon, leading the current squad with nine international goals and providing Bolivia's best avenue to threaten the Argentine rearguard.
