Since the start of the new year, we have been experimenting with different ads and locations across the Mundo Albiceleste website. And if we are being completely honest, it was time for a permanent change.
We have also been hearing and reading all of your feedbacks and are happy to announce what we believe are significant changes. The number of ads on the website have been reduced (we believe significantly) and ultimately, while the ads do help in keeping up with the maintenance of the website, we still want every one to enjoy viewing and reading the content.
Mundo Albiceleste was built by Argentina fans and for Argentina fans, which is why we believe that should remain the priority and will remain the priority.
Should you have any comments or suggestions, please, do let us know in the comments below or email us at mundoalbiceleste10@gmail.com. Our aim is to continue to improve and to provide more content (which we will continue to be doing and will be introducing new sections throughout the year) than we ever have before. And to aim for quality over quantity.
As always, your feedback is strongly appreciated. Mundo Albiceleste has been around since 2006 and we would not be where we are without the Mundo Albiceleste family.
Chelsea secured a dramatic 3–2 comeback victory over West Ham on Matchday 24 of the Premier League, with Enzo Fernández scoring a decisive late goal to seal the win at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues went into halftime trailing 2–0, but showed a strong reaction in the second half and eventually turned the match around in the closing minutes. The defining moment arrived when Enzo found space near the edge of the box and struck a precise first-time shot that left the opposing goalkeeper with no chance.
The goal came in Enzo Fernández’s 150th official appearance for Chelsea. It was also his 11th goal of the season, making it the most prolific campaign of his professional career. Since arriving in London, the Argentine midfielder has now scored 26 goals for the club.
The match also featured other Argentine internationals from the opening whistle. Alejandro Garnacho started for Chelsea, while Valentín Castellanos was included in the starting lineup for West Ham United.
With the victory, Chelsea climbed to fourth place in the Premier League standings with 40 points. West Ham, meanwhile, remain on 20 points and inside the relegation zone.
Argentina’s national team will have a modified schedule in the lead-up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with key changes affecting the final international window before the tournament, per reports by journalist Gastón Edul.
One of the main updates is that the ten days prior to the start of the World Cup will now be vacant. The Argentine Football Association (AFA) is planning to fill that period with two international friendlies. Previously scheduled matches against Mexico and another opponent have been canceled and will be reworked as part of this new plan.
Finalissima dates confirmed
The Finalissima between Argentina national team and Spain national team is officially set for March 27, 2026, at Lusail Stadium in Qatar. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. Argentina time.
The squad call-up window for the Finalissima will run from March 9 to March 25. Training sessions will begin on Monday, March 23, in Doha, Qatar.
Friendly match in Qatar
Following the Finalissima, Argentina will remain in Qatar for an additional friendly match. The team will face Qatar national team on March 31 at Lusail Stadium. The kickoff time for that match has not yet been confirmed.
In total, Argentina will spend eight days in Qatar, combining training sessions with the two international matches.
World Cup preparation timeline
At the end of May, the coaching staff is expected to announce the final 26-player squad for the FIFA World Cup.
The final FIFA international window before the tournament will take place between June 1 and June 9. During that period, Argentina is scheduled to play two preparatory matches, although the opponents have not yet been confirmed.
The 2026 World Cup will officially begin on June 11, marking the start of Argentina’s title defense on the world’s biggest stage.
Maher Carrizo is set to take the next step in his career after Vélez Sarsfield reached an agreement with Ajax for the transfer of the 19-year-old winger. One of the most promising young players in Argentine football, Carrizo will continue his development in Europe with the Dutch giants and is expected to travel this weekend to finalize the move.
Per reports, Vélez will sell 50 percent of Carrizo’s economic rights for €7 million. The deal also includes an option for Ajax to purchase an additional 40 percent for €6 million, while Vélez will retain the remaining 10 percent in the event of a future transfer.
As negotiations progressed positively, Carrizo was left out of Vélez’s squad for Saturday night’s match against Independiente. The decision was made to avoid any risk while the transfer details were being finalized, with both clubs working toward completing the operation without complications.
The Santiago del Estero native is expected to undergo a medical examination in the Netherlands before signing his contract with Ajax, one of the most successful and historic clubs in European football. Ajax has a long-standing reputation for developing young talent, a factor that played a key role in Carrizo’s decision to make the move.
Carrizo’s primary objective is to establish himself in European football with an eye on the long term, including the possibility of earning a place in Argentina’s squad for the 2030 World Cup.
At club level, Carrizo made his professional debut with Vélez Sarsfield in 2024 and quickly became an important part of the first team. That same year, he helped Vélez win the Liga Profesional, marking an impressive start to his senior career. He later added the Supercopa Internacional and the Supercopa Argentina in 2025, further establishing himself as one of the club’s standout young players.
On the international stage, Carrizo was one of the key figures for Argentina Sub-20 during the 2025 Under-20 World Cup, where the team reached the final. His performances in that tournament significantly raised his profile, attracting interest from several top clubs, including River Plate and Boca Juniors.
The story behind Argentinian Bakery & Cafe begins long before its doors opened in Central Florida. It starts in La Plata, Argentina, where José Lapidote was introduced to baking at just nine years old, helping out at a neighborhood bakery after school. What began as necessity quickly became a lifelong passion.
“I grew up surrounded by bakeries,” Lapidote recalled. “The smell of bread and pastries stayed with me. It became part of who I am.”
By his teenage years, Lapidote was already working in major pastry shops in La Plata, including high-level operations connected to the local Jewish community, embassies, and consulates. At a young age, he was trusted with leadership roles, experiences that shaped his discipline and understanding of the craft. “Everything I’ve done in my life, I’ve done with passion,” he said. “This was never just work for me.”
His journey as an entrepreneur began early. At 18, he opened his first bakery in the province of Buenos Aires, followed by successful ventures in several cities. But the path was not without setbacks. Economic instability, labor conflicts, and failed partnerships eventually forced him to start over more than once. “I lost everything at different moments,” Lapidote explained. “But I never lost what I know how to do.”
After years of rebuilding in Argentina and brief experiences abroad, Lapidote eventually made the move to the United States, seeking stability. In Orlando, he started from scratch once again—this time baking from his son’s kitchen and selling online. “I made one post of something I baked at home, people liked it, and it started spreading by word of mouth,” he said.
That organic growth led to the creation of Argentinian Bakery Orlando, originally envisioned as a production and pickup space. Demand quickly reshaped the project. “People wanted to stay, to sit, to share,” Lapidote said. “So we kept expanding.” Alongside José, his son Patricio plays an active role in the day-to-day operation and growth of Argentinian Bakery Orlando.
Today, Argentinian Bakery operates as a café and restaurant deeply rooted in Argentine tradition. From pastries and empanadas to sandwiches and desserts, the menu reflects Lapidote’s commitment to authenticity. “I don’t adapt the flavors,” he emphasized. “80 percent of what we use is Argentine.”
The bakery’s reputation has spread well beyond Orlando. Customers regularly travel from Tampa, Jacksonville, and other parts of Florida—and even neighboring states—to stock up. Lapidote credits that growth to community support rather than marketing strategies. “It’s all word of mouth,” he said. “The people follow us and support us.”
Argentinian Bakery’s role within the Argentine community became especially visible during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. As Argentina advanced through the tournament, the bakery turned into a gathering point for fans eager to experience the matches together.
“We had no more space,” Lapidote recalled. “We put screens outside, people brought their own chairs, and the atmosphere was unbelievable.” The gatherings grew so large that they caught the attention of local media. “Television channels came, and at one point the celebrations spilled into the street.”
After Argentina’s historic World Cup triumph, the celebrations continued beyond the bakery itself. “We all went in caravans to downtown Orlando,” Lapidote said. “It wasn’t about business. It was about sharing something that belongs to us.”
With the next World Cup set to be hosted in the United States, Lapidote says preparations are already underway to recreate—and expand—that experience in 2026. “We’re going to do the same, but bigger,” he said. “Big screens outside, asado, people coming together to watch the matches.”
Lapidote also revealed plans for a new project near the Disney area that would allow for even larger-scale watch parties. “It’s something important that’s coming,” he noted. “A place where people can really live the World Cup together.”
Grateful for the opportunities he found in the United States, Lapidote remains firmly connected to his roots. “I’m Argentine, I think like an Argentine, and I live in this country with gratitude,” he said. “But I never forget where I come from.”
As the 2026 World Cup approaches, Argentinian Bakery Orlando is preparing once again to be a home away from home for Albiceleste supporters—where football, food, and identity come together far from Argentina.
