Scaloni leaves door open for Argentina squad changes after Leonardo Balerdi injury

Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni confirmed on June 7 that centre-back Leonardo Balerdi is ruled out of the 2026 World Cup after sustaining a right-leg soleus muscle injury, and said he has not closed the door on making further changes to the squad ahead of the tournament. Scaloni set Argentina's friendly against Iceland on June 9 as the practical deadline to assess fitness and decide on any additional alterations to his 23-man group.

Why it matters

Balerdi's withdrawal forces Scaloni to return to his preliminary 55-man list for defensive cover and highlights broader fitness concerns inside the Argentina camp just weeks before the World Cup. With squad changes still possible until the pre-tournament deadline, the composition of Argentina's defence — and options in midfield and full-back — could shift depending on the results of the remaining fitness checks.

Scaloni's statement and timeline

Scaloni told reporters he had hoped Balerdi's condition would improve but that medical staff confirmed the defender 'doesn't meet the minimum requirements to be able to help us at least in the group stage' and that withdrawing him was the safer option. The coach emphasised there is one more match to evaluate the squad — the friendly against Iceland on June 9 — and that he will use that fixture to draw conclusions about any further changes.

Other players under observation

Reporters and Argentina insiders say a small number of other players are also being closely monitored for fitness. TyC Sports journalist Gaston Edul is cited identifying Nahuel Molina, Gonzalo Montiel and Leandro Paredes as three players generating concern inside the camp. According to the reporting, none of the three trained with the squad before the Honduras friendly and none made the bench for that match.

Molina and Montiel are reported to be managing muscle tears, which prompted Scaloni to include full-back options Agustin Giay and Nicolas Capaldo on the pre-tournament tour; both featured against Honduras. Paredes is described as dealing with a low-grade muscle tear from recent club action and was unable to train normally.

Key points

• Leonardo Balerdi is ruled out of the 2026 World Cup with a right-leg soleus muscle injury.
• Lionel Scaloni said he may still make more squad changes and will use the June 9 friendly against Iceland to decide.
• TyC Sports (Gaston Edul) reports Nahuel Molina, Gonzalo Montiel and Leandro Paredes are being closely monitored for muscle injuries.
• Agustin Giay and Nicolas Capaldo were brought into the squad as defensive/full-back cover and featured against Honduras.

Context and squad implications

Balerdi's absence reduces Argentina's depth at centre-back and forces Scaloni to consider alternative defensive pairings or emergency call-ups from his wider preliminary list. The reported fitness issues affecting full-backs and a central midfielder increase the possibility that changes could involve multiple positions, not solely a like-for-like defensive replacement.

Scaloni indicated he did not want to cause undue alarm, noting several players were not at 100%, but he is prepared to make pragmatic decisions based on the final pre-tournament match. The balance between protecting player health and fielding a competitive squad remains central to his approach.

What happens next

Argentina will play a friendly against Iceland on June 9; Scaloni has identified that match as the last opportunity to assess the squad before confirming any replacements. No official replacement for Balerdi has been announced at the time of reporting. If further players are deemed unfit, Scaloni may submit changes from his preliminary list before the tournament begins, subject to the regulations governing late squad alterations.