Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said on Wednesday he had yet to decide whether captain Lionel Messi would start in their next World Cup qualifier against Chile, as he continues to closely monitor the 37-year-old’s fitness.

With their place at the 2026 World Cup already secured, Argentina, who lead the South American qualifying standings, travel to face bottom-placed Chile on Thursday without several regulars and with Messi’s role uncertain.

“We’ve been in contact (with Messi) recently. We haven’t decided yet whether he’ll play from the start or not. It would be good to know how he’s feeling physically,” Scaloni told reporters.

“It’s clear that today we’re in a position to try other things. In principle, he’s available to play, and we’ll decide later.”

With a number of key players sidelined by injury or suspension, Scaloni called it a chance to test new talent ahead of their World Cup title defence next summer in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

“We’re going to have a lot of players out. If some of the guys we call up are fit and ready to play, they’ll get their chance,” he said.

“I don’t have the starting eleven confirmed yet, but we will give some playing time to players who haven’t played much and who we believe are ready to play.

“Although the result is always important, we don’t think it’s crucial today. We’ll probably try to help these players settle in and give them the chance to get some playing time with the team.”

The 47-year-old coach stressed that Argentina’s mentality remains unchanged and delivering a strong performance is still the priority.

“We want to play, it’s good for us to see other players, even those who are playing well. A match is never inopportune,” Scaloni said.

“It’s not that we national teams play so much that we would say we don’t want to play this match. On the contrary. We think it’s a nice match to play, with its difficulties. We are in a good position.”

Scaloni also weighed in on Carlo Ancelotti’s appointment as Brazil coach, saying he believes the Italian will strengthen the five-time world champions.

“I think it’s great. We’re talking about one of the best coaches of recent times. He’s going to raise the profile of Brazil even more,” Scaloni added.

“I like his attitude, I like everything about him. I think he’s going to be good. At the end of the day, he enriches the game. He’s welcome here and I wish him all the best.”

-Reuters

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In a significant boost to preparations for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, Morocco and the United Kingdom signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Monday in Salé, near Rabat. The agreement aims to deepen bilateral cooperation in key areas related to the tournament, including sports infrastructure, transport systems, and economic development.

The MoU was signed by Fouzi Lekjaa, Morocco’s Minister Delegate for the Budget and President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), alongside David Lammy, the UK’s Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs. Lekjaa also serves as a member of the FIFA Council.

Speaking from Rabat, Lammy emphasized the UK’s strategic interest in building stronger international partnerships. “Growth and prosperity will underpin our relationship with Morocco and beyond, helping forge new opportunities at home and abroad,” he said, highlighting the agreement as part of London’s broader global engagement strategy.

Beyond sports, Lammy’s visit marked a notable geopolitical development as the UK officially announced its support for Morocco’s Autonomy Plan—a proposal viewed by London as a credible and pragmatic solution to the Western Sahara issue.

Douglas Alexander, UK Minister for Trade Policy, reinforced the importance of Morocco as a gateway for British trade and investment. “Morocco is becoming an increasingly vital economic partner, especially as the UK seeks to grow its presence in emerging markets,” he remarked.

The joint initiative reflects a shared ambition to transform the 2030 FIFA World Cup into more than just a sporting spectacle. Both countries envision the tournament as a platform for economic, social, and cultural opportunity.

The UK has committed to sharing its technical expertise and facilitating connections between Moroccan partners and British businesses experienced in hosting major international events. The collaboration will span stadium construction, transport logistics, event management, and related sectors—laying the groundwork well ahead of kickoff.

For Morocco, this partnership aligns with a broader national vision that sees sports as a catalyst for development and global engagement. The 2030 World Cup presents an unprecedented opportunity to bring this vision to life.

The signing ceremony, held at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Salé, was attended by high-level officials from both governments. It underscored not just diplomatic goodwill, but a concrete, forward-looking partnership aimed at lasting impact.

With the 2030 FIFA World Cup on the horizon, Morocco and the UK have taken a decisive step toward shaping the tournament’s legacy through ambition, cooperation, and shared expertise.

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The Trump administration is considering putting consular officers on double shifts and employing artificial intelligence to surge processing of visas ahead of the World Cup next year, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers on Wednesday.

Travel groups have raised concerns that wait times mean fans from some of the 48 nations set to compete will not be able to secure a U.S. visa before the FIFA tournament, co-hosted by the U.S., Mexico and Canada, kicks off in June 2026.

Trump’s immigration stance has further sparked fears of travel problems for those hoping to attend the soccer tournament, who could include nationals of U.S. adversaries like Iran, one of a handful of countries to already qualify.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio testifies at a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on U.S. President Donald Trump’s State Department budget request for the Department of State, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 21, 2025. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz/File Photo

The U.S. is also hosting a soccer Club World Cup starting next month and Los Angeles will host the 2028 Olympics.

Asked how the State Department would meet demand for visas amid cuts to its budget, Rubio said during a House Committee on Foreign Affairs hearing that the consular affairs bureau that processes visas may in fact be expanded.

Foreign service officers could be reassigned so that some embassies and consulates could operate 24 hours to process more visas, Rubio added

“If you haven’t applied for a visa from Colombia already, you probably won’t get here in time for the World Cup, unless we go to double shifts,” Rubio said.

The wait time for Colombians to get a U.S. tourist visa is currently 398 days, according to the Bogota embassy’s website.

Rubio added they were looking at ways of using AI and technology to speed up processing, particularly for people who have had visas in the past.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino, an ally of Trump, has promised that international fans will be welcome at the World Cup, although U.S. Vice President JD Vance has warned that visitors must “go home” after attending matches.

Andrew Giuliani, son of former New York City Mayor and Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani, will serve as executive director of the presidential task force for the 2026 World Cup.

-Reuters

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