Scaloni 2028: Chiqui Tapia's plan to safeguard Argentina national team project
Talks between Lionel Scaloni and Argentine Football Association (AFA) president Claudio ‘Chiqui’ Tapia have entered a decisive phase; Two-year extension on the table, with an option for two more. Leer más
Chiqui Tapia, the president of the Argentine Football Association (AFA), aims to safeguard Argentina's national team project as the national team prepares for a significant FIFA international window. This period will see captain Lionel Messi's final farewell from international football, as well as the potential continuation of head coach Lionel Scaloni's tenure, whose contract runs until December 2026.
The AFA is considering a flexible '2+2' proposal, which would provide an initial guaranteed contract period until the end of the 2028 Copa América, with an extension clause tied to achieving objectives ahead of the 2030 World Cup. Scaloni has reportedly accepted the proposed contract structure, though financial details remain to be finalized.
Tapia's strategy focuses on maintaining stability within the senior national team during a transition period. With Messi's retirement confirmed and imminent, the coaching staff will be tasked with restructuring the squad, which will also see the departure of vice-captain Nicolás Otamendi and several other senior players contemplating the end of their international careers.
Tapia believes that retaining Scaloni is crucial to preserving the work done in Argentina's youth national teams, as the head coach plays a decisive role in coordinating the efforts of the various trainers in the youth setup. The national teams' success has been a strong pillar of Tapia's administration, with achievements including winning the World Cup in Qatar, reaching the final of the North America World Cup, and securing Copa América and Finalissima titles.
However, the organization of domestic competitions in Argentina continues to face criticism. The AFA has been criticized for constant changes to local tournament rules, the suspension of relegation in previous seasons, and an overexpansive 30-team top flight. French daily L'Équipe recently put it forth that the national team's global excellence contrasts starkly with the structural and organizational disorder within Argentina's domestic league.
Written by urgent.news from Buenos Aires Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
