With Germán Pezzella out due to muscle issues, Argentina’s national team started training with 26 players at the Lionel Messi training complex in Ezeiza, prepping for their upcoming World Cup 2026 qualifiers.

The Albiceleste squad is now down to 26 players for the game against Paraguay in Asunción and the home match five days later against Peru at La Bombonera in Buenos Aires. Pezzella’s absence adds to the loss of Nicolás González, who was already ruled out so he can keep recovering with Juventus in Turin.

The world and Copa America champs had trouble getting their full roster together, with players coming from England including Cristian Romero, Facundo Buonanotte, Lisandro Martínez, Emiliano Martínez, and Enzo Fernández—getting stuck in Brazil. The Argentine Football Association even had to charter a flight to bring them to Buenos Aires.

On top of that, players flying in from Madrid—Giovani Lo Celso, Julián Álvarez, Rodrigo De Paul, and Nahuel Molina were delayed by over six hours before finally arriving in Argentina’s capital. Despite all these setbacks, the squad held their first practice this afternoon, led by captain Lionel Messi, who got to the training center on Monday morning after flying in from Miami. Now, with all 26 players available, Scaloni will start shaping up the starting eleven on Tuesday for Thursday’s match against Paraguay at Estadio Defensores del Chaco in Asunción.