AFA confirms next steps for national football team after Messi’s retirement

The Argentine Football Association (AFA) disclosed on Tuesday the forthcoming schedule for the men's national football team, marking the inaugural series of matches for Argentina following Lionel Messi's retirement. The window of international games, spanning from September 21 to October 6, will see Argentina face three opponents at home: Bolivia, Burkina Faso, and Benin.

The inaugural fixture will take place in Córdoba at the Mario Alberto Kempes Stadium on September 30 against Bolivia. Following this, the Albiceleste are set to return to Buenos Aires to contest against Burkina Faso and Benin on October 3 and 6, respectively, both matches hosted at River Plate's Monumental Stadium. This will mark the first instance of Argentina playing official games without Messi in the squad since the World Cup Qualifiers double headers in March 2025, where they defeated Uruguay and Brazil respectively, with scores of 1-0 and 4-1.

Since Messi's debut on August 17, 2005, Argentina has played 67 games without him, achieving a record of 40 wins, 14 draws, and 13 losses. The 39-year-old superstar announced his retirement from representing the Albiceleste in August, sharing a poignant message on Instagram. These forthcoming matches may also be among the last encounters led by Lionel Scaloni, the current head coach of the Argentine national team.

His contract is set to conclude in December of the same year. Post these games, the final window of the year is slated for November. The announcement detailing the next steps for the national football team after Messi's retirement was initially published in Buenos Aires Herald.