The Argentine Football Association has renewed Lionel Scaloni’s contract through the 2030 World Cup, ending months of speculation over his future after Argentina lost the World Cup final to Spain.
AFA president Claudio Tapia announced the decision at a press conference alongside Scaloni at the association’s headquarters on the eve of Argentina’s friendly against Uruguay. Scaloni’s previous deal was due to expire this December.
“This is a special and very important day for the association and the national team,” Tapia said. He then confirmed that Scaloni and his coaching staff would remain in charge from 2027 to 2030, extending the coach’s eight-year spell at the helm.
“He will become the coach who has led Argentina at the most World Cups,” Tapia added. The 2030 tournament would be Scaloni’s third in charge, having reached the final in both of his previous appearances.
“We’re still the same as we were on day one, with the same enthusiasm and desire,” Scaloni said after the announcement. He has already begun preparing for the next chapter by naming his first squad since Lionel Messi retired from international football.
Scaloni took charge in 2018 and led Argentina to the semi-finals of the 2019 Copa América. He won his first trophy in 2021, beating Brazil at the Maracanã to end Argentina’s 28-year wait for a major title.
In 2022, Argentina beat Italy 3–0 at Wembley to win the Finalissima, then defeated France in Qatar to lift the World Cup. Scaloni added another Copa América title in 2024 as Argentina beat Colombia in the final.
Argentina reached the World Cup final again in 2026 after overcoming England in the semi-finals. Now the team begins a new cycle with the coach who has delivered four trophies, as a new generation gradually takes the reins following Messi’s international retirement.
