Argentina will start life after Lionel Messi with a friendly against Bolivia on September 30. This match will be followed by games against Burkina Faso and Benin, according to the Argentine football association on Tuesday.
The match against Bolivia will happen in Cordoba. The two matches against the African teams will take place at River Plate’s Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires on October 3 and 6.
Last month, FIFA instructed Argentina to reduce the capacity for their next home match to 50 percent. This decision came after the country breached FIFA's rules about using a sports event for non-sporting demonstrations.
In July, after Argentina beat England 2-1 in a tense World Cup semi-final, several players displayed a banner that said: “The Falklands are Argentine.”
The upcoming friendlies will also relate to suspensions given after incidents that occurred following Argentina’s World Cup final loss to Spain. Midfielder Leandro Paredes received a 10-match ban. Defender Nahuel Molina was suspended for seven games, and Thiago Almada received a one-match ban.
Messi announced his retirement from international football in August after a 20-year career. This career included winning the 2022 World Cup and the Copa America in 2021 and 2024.
“I have nothing more to give,” Messi said when he announced his retirement on August 31, just after the World Cup final defeat to Spain.
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