Lionel Scaloni has been named the South American Coach of the Year.

Prestigious media outlet El País has announced that Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni has been named as the South American Coach of the Year, and by some distance. The award is given annualy and Scaloni finished ahead of Palmeiras coach Abel Ferreira.

Scaloni received 107 votes as Ferreira received 35 votes. Winning the FIFA World Cup and the Finalissima in 2022, Scaloni was also named as FIFA The Best Men’s Coach of the Year, having won the award last month.

His reign as Argentina coach will continue with two friendly matches this month.

The schedule has been announced for CONMEBOL’s South American 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Argentina will play six World Cup qualifying matches in 2023 as CONMEBOL have released the entire fixture list for every team. The reigning World Cup champions will play two matches in September, two in October and two in November.

Lionel Scaloni’s team will start at home against Ecuador before playing away against Bolivia. After that comes a home match vs. Paraguay and away vs. Peru in October.

November will have matches against historic rivals. The first will be at home against Uruguay and the second is away against Brazil.

World Cup qualifying will be put on hold until September 2024 where Argentina will host Chile and after that away against Colombia. They continue in October with an away match against Venezuela and at home vs. Bolivia.

It will continue in November away against Paraguay and at home against Peru. In March 2025, it restarts away against Uruguay and at home against Brazil.

Qualifying will continue in June as they will be away vs. Chile and at home vs. Colombia. It will conclude in September 2025 at home against Venezuela and the last match will be away vs. Ecuador.

🚨 CONMEBOL South American 2026 World Cup qualifiers confirmed! Argentina’s matches: 🇦🇷

📍September:
1. Home vs. Ecuador 🇪🇨
2. Away vs. Bolivia 🇧🇴

📍 October:
3. Home vs. Paraguay 🇵🇾
4. Away vs. Peru 🇵🇪

📍 November:
5. Home vs. Uruguay 🇺🇾
6. Away vs Brazil 🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/cg0kXIdV88

— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) March 15, 2023

The South American 2026 World Cup qualifiers are set to start in September.

A meeting between the 10 South American football associations will be held on Wednesday and the topic of the World Cup qualifiers is expected to be confirmed. According to Fernando Czyz, there could be six World Cup qualifiying matches this year.

World Cup qualifiers would begin in September with two matches and two more in October and November.

Alejandro Garnacho has commented on his injury and on missing Argentina’s matches.

Garnacho suffered an injury during Manchester United’s last league match and has been ruled out of for Argentina’s matches later this month. According to Ole, he has suffered a sprained talofibular ligament in his right ankle.

The 18 year old took to Instagram where he posted about his injury and missing the matches. Here is what he had to say:

“I am disappointed to also miss the opportunity to be with my team mates of the Argentinian National Team in what would have been a great and proud moment for me and my family”.

You can view the full post below:

Alejandro Garnacho on Instagram, talks about his injury and missing matches for Argentina and Manchester United. pic.twitter.com/gC5eCZodRB

— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) March 14, 2023