Argentina begin their preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup with an international friendly against Honduras at Kyle Field in Texas as Lionel Scaloni’s side continue their quest to become only the third nation in football history to successfully defend the World Cup title.
The reigning champions head into the clash in strong form after recent friendly victories over Mauritania and Zambia, while they also cruised to a convincing 2-0 win over Angola in another international warm-up fixture. Although Argentina lost four matches during CONMEBOL qualification, they still comfortably finished top of the standings, ending nine points ahead of Ecuador and 10 clear of Brazil in fifth place.
The official Argentina national team X account shared photos of their final training session in Texas ahead of the match.The images capture players smiling during drills, posing together, and practicing with the ball, signaling team readiness and high morale.
Lionel Messi once again proved decisive during qualification, leading La Albiceleste in both goals and assists as the veteran forward prepares for what could be his sixth World Cup appearance.
Argentina were initially expected to face Spain in the Finalissima earlier this year before the match was cancelled due to ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Scaloni’s men will also face Iceland before opening their World Cup campaign against Algeria in Group J.
Honduras, meanwhile, arrive in Texas after narrowly missing out on qualification following a heartbreaking goalless draw against Costa Rica, which saw them lose a playoff spot on goal difference. The disappointment led to the departure of head coach Reinaldo Rueda, with Jose Francisco Molina now tasked with rebuilding the squad.
Honduras will hope players such as Luis Palma and Liverpool youngster Keyrol Figueroa can inspire a competitive display against the defending world champions.
Team News
Argentina may rest Lionel Messi as he continues his recovery from muscle fatigue, while Emiliano Martinez is also nursing a finger injury. Gonzalo Montiel remains unavailable with a muscular problem.
For Honduras, Joseph Rosales is expected to feature in familiar surroundings in Texas, while highly rated Liverpool youngster Keyrol Figueroa could play an important attacking role alongside Luis Palma.
Possible Lineups
Argentina possible starting lineup:
Rulli; Molina, Martinez, Otamendi, Tagliafico; De Paul, Mac Allister, Fernandez; Alvarez, Martinez, Simeone
Honduras possible starting lineup:
Menjivar; Maldonado, Rosales, Vega, Melendez; Rodriguez, Arriaga, Alvarez, Ruiz; Palma, Rivas
How to Watch
| Platform | Details |
|---|---|
| TV Broadcast | SuperSport |
| Live Stream | Amazon Prime Video |
| Kick-off Time | 01:00 (WAT) |
Match Prediction
Softfootball predicts Argentina 3-0 Honduras.
Even without Messi, Argentina possess far too much attacking quality and experience for Honduras. Scaloni’s side should dominate possession and create numerous opportunities against a Honduras team still recovering from qualification disappointment.
