Argentina's Lionel Scaloni Agrees to Coaching Contract Through 2031

Ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Argentina's football association secured a verbal agreement with head coach Lionel Scaloni to extend his tenure until 2031. This decision was reportedly made even before the tournament began, reflecting strong confidence in Scaloni's leadership. Argentine media outlet ESPN, citing journalist Diego Munroig, revealed that Scaloni and the national team arrived at the World Cup with this long-term contract already in place.

Scaloni initially served as assistant to Jorge Sampaoli before being appointed interim coach following Argentina's disappointing exit from the 2018 World Cup. His role was soon made permanent, and under his guidance, Argentina has won two Copa América titles, the CONMEBOL-UEFA Cup of Champions (Finalissima), and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

As Argentina continues its 2026 World Cup campaign with a perfect record in the group stage, they are set to face Cape Verde in the round of 32 in Miami. The early contract extension signals the Argentine Football Association's commitment to maintaining stability and building on recent successes under Scaloni's leadership.