Messi and Argentina start defending their world title

2023-09-06

Argentina by Lionel Messi The defense of his world title begins on Thursday in the first of the extensive South American qualifiers for the World Cup in North America-2026. ‘Crazy’ Marcelo Bielsa His official debut under a renewed leadership Uruguay.

At a packed Monument Stadium – more than eighty thousand tickets were sold in less than two hours – the world champion, with Messi, Angel Di Maria, ‘Dra’ Emiliano Martinez And the other ‘heroes’ of Qatar-2022 are making their way towards the tournament they are organizing. USA, Canada and Mexico.

Dangerous EcuadorA young team with a generation led by Pervis Estupiñán and Moisés Caicedo – a record pass in the Premier League from Brighton to Chelsea – who already has World Cup experience, will be their first opponent on Date 1 before the Mundial. till September 2025.

-Another Eliminator-

But unlike that tie, which earlier offered five, four-and-a-half berths, it now offers a generous six-and-a-half tickets to ten teams, as the 2026 World Cup will be the first with 48 teams, 16 over 32. France-1998 to Qatar-2022.

Choices like that panorama, etc Venezuelawho never qualified for the World Cup; BolivianNot in a World Cup by a long shot America-1994, ParaguayanIt didn’t appear at first South Africa-2010, ChiliIt has been out of the last two World Cups (Russia and Qatar), or Colombia And PeruThose not in Qatar-2022 are also optimistic about the future.

-Other Duels-

revived Paraguayan Miguel Almiron (Newcastle United) will receive the same Thursday at Ciudad del Este. Peru In the opening match of the premundial.

Thirty minutes later, Colombia James Rodriguez will return and the electric Liverpool attacker will get in Barranquilla hot with Luis Diaz’s attacking commitment. VenezuelaThe only South American team that has never played in a World Cup.

– ‘El Loco’ Bielsa debuts –

The first day of the pre-mundial will conclude on Friday with the introduction of Bielsa The sky is blue And one Fernando Diniz As interim president of Brazil.

He ‘Crazy‘ Bayelsa He has put the generational change at La Celeste to work, and he had the luxury of doing without the two top goalscorers in Uruguay’s history in this first doubleheader. Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani, Both are 36 years old.

Argentina’s controversial DD decision in Uruguay adds extra spice to the Celeste’s debut at the Centenario Stadium against Chile.

-Introduction to Chile and Brazil-

The RedMovement Eduardo PerizoLed by veterans Arturo Vidal, Carey Medel and Alexis Sanchez, the ‘Golden Generation’ that led them to Copas America wins in 2015 and 2016 could not replace him, but could not even qualify for Russia-2018. Or Qatar-2022.

The first day will be closed in the Amazon city of Belem Brazil Fernando Denis’, DD Interim will take over until 2024 for Italian Carlo Ancelotti, who will begin his quest for his sixth world title, and weakest since 2002. BolivianA rival that should not cause him major problems.

On Tuesday, the second day sees Bolivia host Argentina, Chile host Colombia, Ecuador host Uruguay, Peru host Brazil, and Venezuela host Paraguay.

Time, channel and days

First meeting-

– Thursday, September 7-

In Ciudad del Este (4:30 pm): Paraguay – Peru

In Barranquilla (5:00 pm): Colombia – Venezuela

In Buenos Aires (6:00 pm): Argentina v Ecuador

– Friday, September 8-

In Montevideo (5:00 pm): Uruguay v Chile

Belém (6:45pm): Brazil v Bolivia

-second date-

– Tuesday, September 12