Argentina's 'Chiqui' Tapia celebrates World Cup squad: 'We go once again'

Claudio 'Chiqui' Tapia, president of the Argentine Football Association (AFA), shared his excitement on social media following the confirmation of the 26-player squad for the upcoming World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. He posted on X, formerly Twitter, expressing faith and the responsibility of defending the title.

Coach Lionel Scaloni finalized the list, which features star player Lionel Messi and largely retains the successful squad from the 2022 World Cup. The selection includes some younger players experiencing their first World Cup. The deadline for submitting the final roster was May 30, and Scaloni took full advantage of the available time to make his final adjustments before the team travels to the United States for pre-tournament friendlies against Honduras and Iceland.

However, the squad announcement was not without its notable omissions. Marcos Acuña, a member of the 2022 championship team, did not make the final cut. Franco Mastantuono, a young player with Real Madrid, also did not secure a spot, which was considered more predictable given his inconsistent performances. Before the squad announcement, Tapia visited San Juan, his home province, where he visited the shrine of Difunta Correa. He shared his gratitude and requested that football bring joy to Argentinians once again this year.