Senesi replaces Balerdi in Argentina's final 26-man 2026 World Cup squad

What happened

Argentina confirmed a late change to its final 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup on June 11, 2026, after defender Leonardo Balerdi suffered a muscle injury in the soleus of his right leg during the national team training camp. The Argentine Football Association (AFA) said Balerdi will not be part of the squad for the tournament and that Marcos Senesi has been called up to replace him ahead of Argentina's opening match.

Why it matters

The change matters because it comes days before Argentina begin their World Cup title defence. FIFA regulations permit injured players to be replaced before a team's first match if the injury is officially verified, and Scaloni moved within that window to avoid taking a risk with Balerdi's fitness. The switch alters the defensive options available to a squad that includes established centre-back figures and had been finalised only shortly before the tournament.

What the AFA announcement said

The AFA publicly confirmed the nature of Balerdi's issue, describing it as a muscle injury in the soleus of his right leg, and stated the defender will be excluded from the squad for the World Cup. Reports cited alongside the AFA note suggested a recovery period of around three weeks, which contributed to the decision not to retain Balerdi in the tournament roster.

Senesi's call-up and what it brings to the squad

Marcos Senesi — who had been on the larger preliminary list earlier in the year — was selected as Balerdi's replacement. The coaching staff identified Senesi as the best available option from the preliminary pool, citing his combination of experience, recent form and familiarity with Lionel Scaloni's system. The source notes Senesi had been involved in recent international windows and can integrate quickly into Argentina's setup.

Senesi's arrival bolsters a defensive group that already contains Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martínez, Nicolás Otamendi and Facundo Medina, giving Scaloni a range of centre-back options heading into the group stage.

The same report also mentions Senesi is expected to begin a new chapter in his club career after leaving Bournemouth for Tottenham; that detail is presented in the source as expectation rather than an official club confirmation and is noted here accordingly.

Preparation context — warm-up fixtures

Argentina were in the final stages of preparation in the United States when the injury occurred. From the supplied match data, Argentina also played a pre-tournament friendly against Iceland on June 10, 2026, winning 3-0, indicating the squad had been using warm-up fixtures as part of their build-up before the World Cup.

Key points

• Leonardo Balerdi ruled out of Argentina's 2026 World Cup squad with a right soleus muscle injury (AFA confirmed).
• Marcos Senesi has been called up to replace Balerdi in the final 26-man squad.
• FIFA rules allow injury replacements before a team's opening match; Argentina used that mechanism.
• Senesi had been on the preliminary 55-man list and has recent international experience with the national team.
• Argentina beat Iceland 3-0 in a friendly on June 10, 2026 (match_data).

What happens next

Senesi will join the squad immediately to continue preparations in time for Argentina's opening World Cup fixture. The late addition ensures Scaloni can name a fully fit defensive option for the start of the tournament; the AFA's decision means Balerdi's place in the group-stage roster is closed. Any further changes would depend on injuries or other developments before Argentina's first match, under the same FIFA replacement rules.