Argentina confirmed its lineup for the friendly against Iceland on Tuesday night, with Lionel Scaloni going with Gerónimo Rulli; Agustín Giay, Nicolás Otamendi, Lisandro Martínez and Facundo Medina; Giovani Lo Celso, Exequiel Palacios and Valentín Barco; and Nico Paz, José Flaco López and Giuliano Simeone up front.
The timing matters because the match is Argentina’s last tune-up before the 2026 World Cup, and it arrived with both teams already at the Alabama venue. Gastón Edul reported that the Como player would share the attack with López and Simeone, a detail that helped frame the final attacking shape just as fans were looking for confirmation ahead of kickoff.
The weather briefly threatened to dominate the night. Heavy rain hit Jordan-Hare Stadium, water ran down the stairways and the field was covered, but the stadium began receiving the public two hours before kickoff and the pitch started draining as the rain eased. The game stayed on schedule, and at that moment there was no sign it would be suspended.
For Argentina, the friendly carries extra weight because it comes right before the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada. A University of Reading study placed Argentina as the side with the highest probability of winning the trophy, while FIFA is also set to honor Diego Maradona at the tournament’s opening ceremony. That makes this final dress rehearsal more than a routine exhibition: it is the last clear look at Scaloni’s side before the tournament begins.
Broadcast plans also matched the occasion, with the match scheduled for TyC Sports, Telefe and LPF Play. Across the region, kickoff times were set for 22.00 for Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay; 21.00 for Chile, Bolivia, Venezuela, Puerto Rico and Miami in the United States; and 20.00 for Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Honduras and Nicaragua. What remained unanswered was the final score, but the lineup and the weather had already turned this into a night of attention well before the first whistle.
