Lionel Messi arrived in Kansas City on Sunday night to join Argentina’s 2026 World Cup training camp, flying in from Miami on a private jet alongside Rodrigo De Paul. The defending champions open their title defence against Algeria in Kansas City on 17 June.
The main squad had already landed earlier on Sunday, travelling from Buenos Aires on a charter flight numbered AR1978, a reference to Argentina’s first World Cup triumph in 1978. Julian Alvarez, Enzo Fernández, and Nicolás Otamendi were among those on board. Scaloni also brought several young players to assist in training sessions.
Lisandro Martínez and Emiliano Martínez both reported to camp separately. Emiliano Martínez arrived with his hand fully bandaged, though there is no concern over his availability for the tournament.
AFA president Claudio Tapia has not yet joined the squad. He attended the Champions League final in Budapest and will link up with the group at a later date.
Argentina are based at the newly built Origin Hotel in Kansas City, which serves as their tournament headquarters. Training started on Monday morning at the Sporting KC Training Center, a 20-minute drive from the hotel. The squad face variable conditions in Kansas at this time of year, with intense heat, humidity, and the possibility of storms to contend with.
Messi picked up a left hamstring problem during recent club duty with Inter Miami. Argentine sports daily Clarin reports he will be fully fit before the opening match against Algeria.
Argentina play two warm-up matches first. They face Honduras in Texas on 7 June, then meet Iceland in Alabama on 10 June. The World Cup gets under way on 11 June.
