Lionel Messi is confirmed to play for Argentina in their final warm-up match against Iceland on Tuesday in Auburn, Alabama, as part of the preparations for the FIFA World Cup 2026. Coach Lionel Scaloni stated that while Messi will participate, the exact number of minutes he will play is still to be determined, as they aim to manage his workload carefully following recent muscle fatigue. Messi missed the previous friendly match against Honduras due to this issue but has rejoined the national team camp. Scaloni also mentioned that other players, including Nico Paz, Nahuel Molina, and Gonzalo Montiel, have recovered from injuries and are available for selection. Positive updates were provided regarding Julian Alvarez and Leandro Paredes, who are both dealing with minor fitness concerns. Additionally, Argentina is assessing potential replacements for defender Leonardo Balerdi, who was ruled out of the World Cup due to a calf injury. The team is set to open their World Cup campaign against Algeria on June 16, followed by matches against Austria and Jordan in Group J.