Chile's head coach, Ricardo Gareca, acknowledged that while he would prefer Lionel Messi not to play, he is aware that Argentina is still a formidable team capable of delivering strong performances without their star player. Messi's absence from the upcoming World Cup 2026 qualifier between Chile and Argentina will be felt, but Gareca emphasized that the Albiceleste has proven they can succeed without him.

"I prefer Messi not to be there, but that doesn't diminish the quality or the resources Argentina has. They are capable of resolving the situation. When Messi hasn't played, they’ve had good results and performances; we've analyzed that," Gareca said during a press conference.

Gareca anticipates a tough match in Buenos Aires as the qualifiers resume but remains hopeful that Chile can improve upon their performance compared to their last encounter during the Copa América in June.

Chile is currently in eighth place in the qualifiers, with five points, and is outside the positions that would secure a spot in the 2026 World Cup. "We are in the middle of the qualification process, and from here, it's about finding both performance and results. There is no time, but I hope we can achieve it," Gareca stated.