Lionel Messi and Argentina are on the road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but their next home qualifier may mean even more. Argentina returns to action in September. Lionel Scaloni’s team will play Venezuela at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires on September 4,

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni has included Lionel Messi in his preliminary list for CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela and Ecuador on Sept. 4 and 9, respectively.

Palmeiras striker Jose Manuel Lopez also received his first Argentina callup on Monday for World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela and Ecuador. Lopez caught the eye of coach Lionel Scaloni for his goal-scoring output at Palmeiras, where he joined in 2022 from Lanús. The center forward has 15 goals in 42 matches this year.