Home Blog Page 4

Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni at press conference, Lionel Messi

1

Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni spoke at a press conference about the team and about Lionel Messi.

Lionel Scaloni spoke at a press conference with Enzo Fernández and Scaloni spoke about the team. Here is what he had to say:

“The team is well and ready for the match tomorrow.

“Austria is a difficult opponent with very good players. They pressure well and they had a great qualification. No doubt, it will be a complicated match.

“There is no easy match at this World Cup.

“We try to watch every match. It’s great, you learn a lot of things and above all, we enjoy it.

“You can’t always dominate the ball in a match but the important thing is for the team to react when that happens.

“After Qatar, the team also had good games. The team is showing signs that it always wants to improve.

“Everyone is available to play.

Scaloni also spoke about Lionel Messi turning 39 years of age and his birthday:

“I want Leo to be happy, that is my dream for him and I believe of everyone.”

Enzo Fernández speaks at Argentina national team press conference

1

Enzo Fernández spoke at the Argentina national team press conference.

Fernández was the player along with Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni who spoke at the press conference in Dallas. Here is what he had to say:

“I feel very comfortable in the position I am in.

“When I am picked to play, I try to give the most and my best for the team.

“If I had to go back and write Leo a letter again, one book would not be enough to write everything I learned at his side.

“I learned a lot in these four years. Today, I feel more mature and I demande more from myself day to day to keep improving.

“Against Algeria, we played a great match, we controlled the ball very well. Starting Qatar with a loss was difficult but everything after was incredible. Today, starting with a win gives us a lot of confidence.

“Austria play very direct, they leave space but they are aggressive when attacking.

“I like to always touch the ball, it gives me a lot of confidence. For us, it is always important to control the ball, no matter the opponent in front of us.

“Football is becoming more even and I feel like this World Cup is more competitive. Nowadays, there are many teams that are surprising and having a great group stage.”

Rumored Argentina starting eleven for match vs. Austria at World Cup, Lionel Messi

34

The Argentina national team will play Austria at the World Cup on Monday and Lionel Messi is set to start.

Lionel Messi scored three goals for Argentina in their 3-0 win against Algeria at the World Cup and is set to start against Austria. Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni will be without Gonzalo Montiel for the match against Austria and he could make one change to the team which start the win against Algeria. According to SportsCenter ESPN, here is the rumored eleven:

Emiliano Martínez; Molina, Romero, Lisandro Martínez, Medina; De Paul, Mac Allister, Enzo, Almada; Messi and Lautaro Martínez

Druid Sport secures 11 partnerships for the Argentina Football Association across China and the Indian subcontinent

0

Druid Sport has driven record growth in the Argentina Football Association’s (AFA) commercial footprint across Asia, securing an unprecedented portfolio of 11 regional sponsorships across China and the Indian subcontinent as the FIFA World Cup 2026 gets underway.

As AFA’s exclusive commercial representative in these key Asian markets, Druid Sport has delivered a series of strategically aligned partnerships that strengthen AFA’s presence across multiple high-growth sectors, reinforcing its position as one of the most commercially compelling international sports properties.

Across China, Druid Sport has secured partnerships with Dongfeng, Danone, Du Xiaoman, Wahaha Beverages, Shenzhou Car Rental and PairDeer (Sonluk). These agreements span key categories including automotive, FMCG, financial services, mobility and consumer electronics, establishing a broad and locally relevant commercial platform for AFA.

In parallel, across India and neighbouring markets, Druid Sport has delivered landmark partnerships with TVS Motor Company, KT, LEGXI and Jagdale Industries. These collaborations cover mobility, personal care, collectibles and healthcare, reflecting a targeted approach to high-growth sectors with strong consumer engagement potential.

Collectively, these partnerships underline Druid Sport’s growing capability across Asia, combining deep local market expertise with international rights holder representation, sponsorship strategy and brand partnership delivery.

Eric Fan, Senior VP of Sales of Druid Sport China, commented: “Our focus has been to build a balanced and strategically aligned partner portfolio that translates AFA’s global brand power into locally meaningful collaborations.”

Roshan Joseph, General Manager, Commercial Partnerships of Druid Sport India, added: “In the Indian subcontinent, our objective has been to create partnerships that go beyond awareness, embedding the Argentina brand into everyday consumer experiences.”

With the FIFA World Cup 2026 now underway, these partnerships provide AFA with an expanded platform to engage fans across Asia through integrated marketing campaigns, product-led collaborations and digital activation, creating consistent and relevant touchpoints across diverse consumer markets.

(Source: Druid Sport. Photo credit: AFA)

Gonzalo Montiel to miss Argentina’s match vs. Austria at World Cup due to injury

26

Gonzalo Montiel is going to miss Argentina’s match against Austria at the World Cup due to injury.

Montiel started Argentina’s 3-0 win against Algeria at the World Cup but will not play against Austria. According to DSports, Montiel has a minor strain in the quadriceps of his right leg and will miss the match against Austria on Monday.

He will most likely be rested against Jordan in order to be fir for a possible knockout round match.