Argentina face Venezuela for the second time in little over a month when they contest Friday’s international friendly with their South American adversaries in Miami Gardens.
La Albiceleste were convincing 3–0 winners in September’s 2026 World Cup qualifier, with Lionel Messi bagging a brace in his final match on home soil for Argentina. The world champions had already qualified for next summer’s tournament having blitzed their opposition in CONMEBOL’s qualifying stage.
Argentina’s campaign ended on a slightly sour note as they were beaten by Ecuador but Lionel Scaloni will care little about such an inconsequential defeat. Now it’s time to rally the troops and intensify preparations for the defense of their crown in North America.
A friendly with Venezuela should allow Argentina a swift return to winning ways, with Oswaldo Vizcarrondo’s side in disappointing form. They failed to qualify for their first ever World Cup as they slipped to an eighth-place finish and have lost six of their last eight matches, conceding 20 goals in the process.
Here’s guide to a South American clash staged in the United States.
