Trust coach Argentina Lionel Scaloni In the appearance of shirts Lionel Messi In the stands of the host team BaragwayDespite the ban imposed on competing teams’ shirts, before the two teams’ match.
The Argentine national team will play against its host Paraguay at the Defensors del Chaco stadium in Asuncion tomorrow, Friday, within… South American continent qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.
Fernando Viasboa, director of football at the Paraguayan Federation, called on local fans to wear only Paraguayan shirts in the match with Argentina, and warned that he would not allow wearing Argentine shirts, including Lionel Messi’s shirt, in the stands designated for the home fans.
Viasboa told the local press yesterday, Wednesday: “We will not allow you to wear the opposing team’s shirt. There is no problem facing Messi. We respect the career of all players, but the field we play on is very important to us.”.
For his part, Paraguay coach Gustavo Alfaro said: “I had nothing to do with the shirt ban, I had no idea about that… Messi is our opponent tomorrow. I wish him the best match of his life against Peru in the next match, but not tomorrow.”.
However, Argentina coach Scaloni stressed that the global impact of the Argentine national team’s number 10 player, the country’s all-time top scorer and World Cup winner, is much greater.
Scaloni added in a press conference on the eve of the match against Paraguay: “Logically for Paraguayan footballers and fans, they all want to wear their national team’s shirt, but Leo Messi is stronger than all that, and Argentina’s shirts will be present. This does not mean that they do not support Paraguay. I think it is good for football fans to realize who he is.” “Just wearing a shirt does not make you an Argentina fan.”.
Argentina leads the South American qualifiers standings with 22 points, while Paraguay ranks sixth with 13 points.
