A Potential Farewell at La Bombonera

An emotional evening is expected at La Bombonera this Tuesday as Argentina hosts Zambia for the first time in history. With speculation surrounding Lionel Messi’s international future, this match could serve as the final time the legendary forward plays on home soil for his country.

Manager Lionel Scaloni has confirmed that the 2022 World Cup Golden Ball winner will start against the 91st-ranked Zambian side. Messi previously appeared in the second half of Thursday’s friendly match.

Context of the Friendly Match

The Argentine national team arranged these fixtures against African opponents following the cancellation of La Finalissima due to conflict in Iran. Scaloni’s squad began their March schedule with a 2–1 victory over Mauritania and aims to deliver a strong performance against Zambia.

Zambia, the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations champions, has struggled in recent years. This match marks the first outing for Moses Sichone’s squad since their group-stage exit from AFCON at the end of 2025.

Broadcast and Kick-off Information

Fans in the United States and Canada can access coverage of the match through several broadcasters. The game is scheduled to kick off at the following times:

  • ET: 7:15 p.m.
  • PT: 4:15 p.m.
  • BST: 12:15 a.m.

Looking Toward the World Cup

With the World Cup beginning in just over 70 days, Argentina is preparing for their opening match against Algeria on June 16 in Kansas City. The team plans to schedule two additional warm-up matches before the tournament commences.

Conversely, Zambia failed to qualify for the upcoming World Cup. This friendly serves as their first match of 2026, with no further fixtures currently scheduled for the team.