Messi to play ‘very special’ final World Cup qualifier in Argentina on Thursday
Expect Lionel Messi and his fans to get teary-eyed Thursday night as the Inter Miami captain is set to play his final World Cup qualifying match in Argentina.
The defending World Cup champions are hosting Venezuela in South America’s penultimate round of qualifying matches for the 2026 World Cup, which is being held in the United States, Mexico and Canada next summer.
Argentina, which leads the standings and has already earned a Cup berth, plays its final qualifier on the road next week against Ecuador. Messi may not travel to that game, as he reportedly will head back to South Florida to prepare for the final stretch of the MLS season.
The 38-year-old Argentina captain said he is anticipating an emotional match at Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires. His wife, three sons, parents and siblings are expected to attend.
“It’s going to be a very special game for me because it’s the last one in the qualifying round I don’t know if there will be friendlies or other games after that,” Messi told Apple TV last week after Inter Miami’s win against Orlando City in the Leagues Cup semifinals.
“It’s a very special game, which is why my family will be there with me — my wife, my children, my parents, my siblings, and everyone else that can, including my wife’s whole family.”
Messi is expected to play through the 2026 World Cup and is in negotiations to extend his Inter Miami contract at least through the 2026 season but will likely retire before the 2030 World Cup.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said on Wednesday that Thursday’s match would be “emotional, special and beautiful”, adding, “If it really is the last qualifying match, we have to enjoy it.”
The match begins at 7:30 p.m. and will be shown on Universo. It can be streamed on Fubo.
Messi’s Inter Miami teammate and close friend Rodrigo De Paul will also be playing for Argentina.
It is a crucial game for Venezuela, which includes Inter Miami’s Telasco Segovia on its roster. The top six teams in South America (CONMEBOL) qualify for the World Cup and the seventh-place team enters a playoff. Venezuela is in seventh place with 18 points, four points behind Colombia (22) with two games remaining. Bolivia is also still alive with 17 points.
The top six teams in the standings are Argentina (35 points), Ecuador (25), Brazil (25), Uruguay (24), Paraguay (24), and Colombia (22).
Other Inter Miami players called up for national team duty this week include Fafa Picault (Haiti), David Ruiz (Honduras), Noah Allen (Greece U-21), Mateo Silvetti (Argentina U-20), Santi Morales (USA U-19).
Inter Miami resumes its MLS schedule Sept. 13 on the road against Charlotte and then plays a highly anticipated home game against the Seattle Sounders on Sept. 16, a rematch of the Leagues Cup final, which Miami lost 3-0 in a game marred by a post-match brawl.