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Argentina Hopes Messi Will Play at 2026 World Cup Even as Team Wins Without him

Fans of Argentina hold a flag with the picture of Argetina's forward Lionel Messi before the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup South American qualifiers football match between Argentina and Brazil at the Mas Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires province, on March 25, 2025. (Photo by Luis ROBAYO / AFP)
Fans of Argentina hold a flag with the picture of Argetina's forward Lionel Messi before the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup South American qualifiers football match between Argentina and Brazil at the Mas Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires province, on March 25, 2025. (Photo by Luis ROBAYO / AFP)
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Argentina Hopes Messi Will Play at 2026 World Cup Even as Team Wins Without him

Fans of Argentina hold a flag with the picture of Argetina's forward Lionel Messi before the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup South American qualifiers football match between Argentina and Brazil at the Mas Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires province, on March 25, 2025. (Photo by Luis ROBAYO / AFP)
Fans of Argentina hold a flag with the picture of Argetina's forward Lionel Messi before the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup South American qualifiers football match between Argentina and Brazil at the Mas Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires province, on March 25, 2025. (Photo by Luis ROBAYO / AFP)

Argentina is proving it can win without Lionel Messi, just in case he opts not to play in the 2026 World Cup.
After Argentina secured a spot in next year's competition, the main question now is whether the 37-year-old star will play in his sixth tournament and try to win back-to-back championships.
“We will see what happens, there’s plenty of time," Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said, according to The Associated Press. "We must go one game a time otherwise (we) will be speaking about the same thing the rest of the year and we need to leave him alone, we will see. He will decide it whenever he wants, let’s not drive him crazy with this.”
On Tuesday, hours after Argentina qualified for the next World Cup, it went out and handed Brazil its worst-ever loss World Cup qualifying — a 4-1 thrashing. That was days after Argentina's 1-0 victory at Uruguay.
Both victories came without Messi. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner had been ruled out after sustaining a low-grade adductor muscle injury.
Messi, who captained Argentina to the 2022 World Cup title in Qatar, has been sidelined several times by Inter Miami this season because of injury concerns.
His Argentina teammates left no doubt about their hopes for Messi to return.
“With Messi we might have scored two or three more goals,” said striker Julián Álvarez, who scored one goal against Brazil.
Bolivia’s failure to beat Uruguay on Tuesday assured Argentina — which leads the South American qualifiers with 31 points — of one of the continent’s six direct spots for the 48-team World Cup to be co-hosted next year by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
After Tuesday's big win at Monumental de Nunez Stadium, midfielder Rodrigo de Paul seemed to speak for the whole country.
"The best of our teams is always when the No. 10 is playing," De Paul said, “because he is the greatest of all time.”

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Henry Says Nancy Can Turn Things Around at Celtic

Soccer Football - Scottish League Cup Final - St Mirren v Celtic - Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain - December 14, 2025 Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy reacts Action Images via Reuters/Craig Brough
Soccer Football - Scottish League Cup Final - St Mirren v Celtic - Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain - December 14, 2025 Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy reacts Action Images via Reuters/Craig Brough
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Henry Says Nancy Can Turn Things Around at Celtic

Soccer Football - Scottish League Cup Final - St Mirren v Celtic - Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain - December 14, 2025 Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy reacts Action Images via Reuters/Craig Brough
Soccer Football - Scottish League Cup Final - St Mirren v Celtic - Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain - December 14, 2025 Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy reacts Action Images via Reuters/Craig Brough

Wilfried Nancy has endured the worst start of any manager at Celtic after losing his first four games but former Arsenal forward Thierry Henry has called for patience and said he is confident his fellow Frenchman can turn things around.

Celtic's 2-1 defeat by Dundee United on Wednesday marked their longest losing run since the 1977-78 season and ‌the Glasgow ‌side, who have won ‌13 ⁠of the ‌last 14 league titles, are second in the current campaign, six points behind leaders Hearts, though with a game in hand.

Their defeat by St Mirren in last week's League Cup final prompted calls for Nancy's dismissal ⁠but Henry, who had Nancy as his assistant ‌at CF Montreal, told the ‍BBC it was ‍difficult to impose a philosophy and ‍an identity on a club quickly.

"Right now it's too early, and I do think he can turn it around. He is a great guy and has a great mind," Reuters quoted him as saying on Thursday.

"It's not working ⁠at the moment and obviously it doesn't look great. But he's a friend of mine, so I am going to be biased.

"You don't want any coach to lose their job that early. It doesn't make sense to me."

On Wednesday, the club's chairman Peter Lawwell said he was leaving by the end of the month, blaming ‌abuse and threats during a tough season.

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Morocco Beat Jordan 3-2 after Extra Time to Clinch Arab Cup

Morocco's players celebrate with the winner trophy after defeating Jordan in the FIFA Arab Cup final soccer match in Lusail, Qatar, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Hussein Sayed)
Morocco's players celebrate with the winner trophy after defeating Jordan in the FIFA Arab Cup final soccer match in Lusail, Qatar, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Hussein Sayed)
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Morocco Beat Jordan 3-2 after Extra Time to Clinch Arab Cup

Morocco's players celebrate with the winner trophy after defeating Jordan in the FIFA Arab Cup final soccer match in Lusail, Qatar, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Hussein Sayed)
Morocco's players celebrate with the winner trophy after defeating Jordan in the FIFA Arab Cup final soccer match in Lusail, Qatar, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Hussein Sayed)

Morocco defeated Jordan 3-2 after extra time to claim the Arab Cup on Thursday thanks to two goals from Abderrazzaq Hamed Allah following a stunning long-range strike from Oussama Tannane.

Morocco opened the scoring after four minutes when Tannane's audacious shot from the center circle caught advancing goalkeeper Yazeed Abulaila off guard, Reuters reported.

Jordan, set to make their World Cup debut in 2026, hit back with a second-half double from Ali Olwan's header and penalty in the 48th and 68th minutes respectively.

But Hamed Allah scored three minutes from the end to force extra time before grabbing the winner from close range.

Morocco enjoyed another success despite missing several Europe-based players ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations.

They became the first African and Arab nation to reach the semi-finals of a World Cup – also in Qatar three years ago - eliminating Spain and Portugal before falling to France.

Morocco were crowned Under-20 world champions in October when they beat Argentina 2-0 in the final to become the first Arab nation to lift the trophy.

The under-17 side reached the World Cup quarter-finals, while the under-23 team won the Africa Cup of Nations and a place at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where they took bronze.

Morocco is set to host AFCON from December 21 to January 18.

Sports

Morocco Hosting AFCON will Help Algeria, Chaibi Says

Soccer Football - Friendly - Fulham v Eintracht Frankfurt - Craven Cottage, London, Britain - August 9, 2025 Eintracht Frankfurt's Fares Chaibi Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs
Soccer Football - Friendly - Fulham v Eintracht Frankfurt - Craven Cottage, London, Britain - August 9, 2025 Eintracht Frankfurt's Fares Chaibi Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs
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Morocco Hosting AFCON will Help Algeria, Chaibi Says

Soccer Football - Friendly - Fulham v Eintracht Frankfurt - Craven Cottage, London, Britain - August 9, 2025 Eintracht Frankfurt's Fares Chaibi Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs
Soccer Football - Friendly - Fulham v Eintracht Frankfurt - Craven Cottage, London, Britain - August 9, 2025 Eintracht Frankfurt's Fares Chaibi Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs

Algeria hope to use the familiarity of Morocco's climate to land a third Africa Cup of Nations title, midfielder Fares Chaibi said despite his dismay that the upcoming tournament was not being held in the summer.

The Eintracht Frankfurt player, capped 22 times, also believed the proximity would make it easier for Algerian fans to rally behind the team when AFCON begins on December 21, according to Reuters.

The French-born Chaibi expressed his excitement about the tournament, although it means he will miss crucial games for his club.

"We're eagerly waiting for this Cup," Chaibi told Reuters in a Zoom interview.

"It will undoubtedly be a fantastic tournament. Our Moroccan brothers have excellent infrastructure and know how to organise events.

"We have no doubt about the quality of the stadiums. I think all teams are happy to play in Morocco, and I hope it will be a great tournament," he added.

"Morocco has the same climate as Algeria, we won't feel like strangers, we'll almost be at home. We have everything to deliver a big tournament, and we're going there to make it happen."

Algeria's AFCON triumphs have come in North Africa. First as hosts in 1990, then in Egypt in 2019.

Chaibi believes summer is the ideal time for AFCON, but playing in winter won't stop him from trying to erase the disappointment of Algeria's early group-stage exit in Ivory Coast in 2024.

"It was supposed to be in summer... As professional players, we'll always be there and answer the call of the homeland, no matter the timing. But in my view, summer is better," he said.

"It doesn't disrupt the season. We are focused at the end of the campaign, then get some rest. Now we break the season in half and miss club games, which isn't ideal. But as I said, we'll adapt."

ALGERIAN ROOTS

Born in Lyon to Algerian parents, the 23-year-old never considered waiting for a France call-up, unlike peers such as Rayan Cherki and Maghnes Akliouche, who earned their first caps for Les Bleus this year.

"It was a natural choice. Algeria is my country. France is also my country because I was born there, but I feel more Algerian. It wasn't a hard decision, and it wasn’t disrespectful to France. it's a great football nation," Chaibi said.

"But my culture has always been Algerian, and I wanted to make my family proud."

Chaibi helped Algeria return to the World Cup after a 12-year absence, fulfilling his childhood dream of joining the team he watched at Brazil 2014.

Algeria, making their fifth finals appearance, will face holders Argentina, Jordan, and Austria in Group J of the expanded 48-team tournament in North America next summer.

"I think it's every kid's dream. When you watch the World Cup, you say, 'Wow, this is huge'. And when you are from Africa, it's not easy. Things are better now with more slots, but before, few African nations made it," Chaibi said.