Scaloni Agrees to Stay On as Argentina Coach on Conditions, with Eyes on the 2030 World Cup
Lionel Scaloni's contract with Argentina was due to expire in December. However, he has reached an agreement with the Argentine Football Association (AFA) to continue as head coach until the next World Cup, having agreed to stay on subject to conditions.
According to international media reports, he will sign a two-year contract running until 2028, with an option for the deal to be automatically extended until 2030 if both parties agree.
The plan is for him to lead the team until the 2030 World Cup, whose opening match will be held in Argentina. In other words, the aim of the new deal is not merely to extend his tenure, but to keep the team under the same coach through the next World Cup cycle.
After taking some time to think it over and meeting Claudio Tapia during the recent FIFA window, Scaloni agreed to remain in charge. The decision is seen as putting an end to the speculation.
Through this, his coaching tenure, which began in 2018, is heading towards a full ten years. This long continuity is one of the biggest aspects of the new contract.
The talks were concluded after the contractual details, particularly the financial terms, were finalised. Settling these details was central to his conditional agreement, the reports noted.
So far, the AFA's only official statement is the one in which it confirmed that talks had begun. No formal announcement about the new contract has yet been made.
A formal announcement could come within the next few days, or during the FIFA window of 9 to 17 November, when Scaloni will be in the country.
While Scaloni assesses various options for the next World Cup, Argentina will close out 2026 with two friendly matches in November. Those two matches will serve as his testing ground.
Argentina will face Uruguay at La Bombonera on 13 November and Costa Rica at the Mario Alberto Kempes Stadium in Cordoba on 17 November. The picture of Scaloni's new tenure will become clearer after these two friendlies.
