PREVIEW

World champions and Copa America defending champions Argentina travel to Barranquilla to face Colombia in a CONMEBOL qualifier for the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez on Tuesday.

Argentina currently sit top of the qualifying table with 18 points, having won six of their seven matches. Unbeaten Colombia are currently in third place with 13 points from seven matches, including three wins.

The top six teams in the group after all qualifying matches qualify directly for the final round of the World Cup, which will be held in the USA, Mexico and Canada, while the seventh-placed team takes part in the confederation play-offs.

Will Lionel Messi play in the Argentina vs Chile match?

Talisman Lionel Messi will not be available for the game after being left out of the 28-man squad due to an ankle injury sustained in the Copa America final in the United States last month.

River Plate goalkeeper Franco Armani was also not included in the squad, as was striker Angel Di Maria, who announced his retirement from the national team after the Copa America.

Coach Lionel Scaloni called up midfielder Ezequiel Fernandez and striker Valentin Castellanos for the first time, as well as young players with few international caps, including Alejandro Garnacho, Valentin Carboni, Valentin Barco and Matias Soule.

DIRECT COMPARISON

Played – 12

Argentina – 5

Colombia – 1

Draw – 6

PREDICTED LINEUPS

Argentina: E. Martinez (TW), Molina, Romero, L. Martinez, Otamendi, De Paul, Enzo Fernandez, Lo Celso, Dybala, Lautaro Martinez, Alvarez

Colombia: Vargas (GK), Mojica, Lucumi, Mina, Munoz, Lerma, Rios, Rodriguez, Diaz, Sinisterra, Cordoba

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