FLionel Scaloni’s side will now play a friendly at home in preparation for the upcoming World Cup after the finalisima against Spain was cancelled.
The AFA has announced that it will host the Guatemalan national soccer team on March 31st, but the stadium where the match will be held has not yet been decided.
How many times did they face each other?
Argentina’s soccer governing body issued a statement confirming the match, but the venue remains unknown as the Monumental Stadium will be used for AC/DC concerts, with ESPN saying La Bombonera Stadium could be a likely candidate. However, the possibility of the match being held elsewhere in the country has not been ruled out.
Meanwhile, the squad for this FIFA schedule, which is expected to be announced between Thursday and Friday this week, is expected to be fewer than the 35-38 players that Scaloni had prepared for the game against Spain.
The match has emerged as a key replacement match following the cancellation of the much-anticipated intercontinental showdown between Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi, but Luis Fernando Tena’s side and Scaloni’s side already know each other well.
In fact, the 47-year-old coach made his debut as Albiceleste manager on September 7, 2018, in Los Angeles, USA, against Guatemala. Argentina won the match 3-0 with goals from Gonzalo Marnez (penalty), Giovani Lo Celso and Giovanni Simeone.
Meanwhile, the most recent meeting between the two teams took place on June 14 of the same year for the 2024 Copa Amrica, with Argentina winning 4-1 in Washington thanks to two goals each from Messi and Lautaro Marnez. Guatemala scored with an own goal by Lisandro Marnez.
Prior to these two games, Argentina defeated Guatemala 4-0 away in June 2013, when Alejandro Sabella was in charge.
Meanwhile, Argentina only has two more games left in the United States after this FIFA International break. Just weeks before their opening game against Algeria on June 16, the reigning world champions will play two friendlies in the United States, with opponents yet to be decided.
