Argentina vs. Egypt: Paredes to start, Scaloni confirms

Argentina's national soccer team manager Lionel Scaloni has confirmed that midfielder Leandro Paredes will be available and will start in the crucial World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match against Egypt. The confirmation came during a press conference held at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

The Argentine squad is focused on defending their 2022 World Cup title and aims to play a total of eight matches in the tournament. After navigating four previous matches, they now face Egypt. Should they advance, their quarter-final game is scheduled for July 11 in Kansas City, against the winner of the upcoming match between Switzerland and Colombia.

Despite the challenge posed by Egypt, who have shown resilience, including a previous close call against Cabo Verde, Argentina's attention is also on the tournament's progression. The team's star player, Lionel Messi, has a significant history with matches played in the United States. Notably, he has played more games for Argentina in the U.S. than in Brazil, with the United States now serving as his adopted home both personally and for his national team appearances.