Time flies quickly, as we are already near the first international break after the 2026 FIFA World Cup concluded in the United States, with Spain’s victory over Lionel Messi’s Argentina. South American national teams are now starting their preparations for the 2028 Copa America, and for defending Champions Argentina, that means saying goodbye to captain Messi with one final send-off game, while Uruguay and Ecuador will debut new managers.
Lionel Messi Says Goodbye to Argentina’s National Team
The global headline from this international window will be Lionel Messi‘s farewell. After a tear filled goodbye, first in the World Cup final, where Argentina suffered a narrow defeat to Spain, and then in a letter he posted on social media some weeks later, Messi made it clear, that age 39, he’s hanging up his #10 sky blue jersey, and letting Argentina turn the page for a new era of the national team.
Messi, Argentina’s all-time leading goalscorer and most capped player, led Argentina to two Copa Americas, three World Cup finals, and one World Cup title. He also made Argentina, once again, the most followed international team in the world. As expected, he’s being given the honor to properly say goodbye to his national team teammates, and his home country. Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires should be sold out on October 6th, when Argentina takes on Benin, the #93rd ranked team in the world.
This is Argentina’s third international match of the window, the games against Bolivia and Burkina Faso will be in Cordoba, and at the Monumental respectively. Those first two matches will be without Messi, Giovani Lo Celso, or Rodrigo De Paul, who will only play against Benin.
As for the call-ups to the squad that continues to be managed by Lionel Scaloni, Cristian Romero, now at Atletico Madrid, will captain, Roman Vega, a defender at Zenit St. Petersburg joins the party, with two other 22-year-old defenders Valentin Barco (Chelsea), and Agustin Giay (Palmeiras). Nico Paz (Como) is expected to see an expanded role in Messi’s absence, while there’s four U-23 forwards named.
Santiago Castro and Matias Soule (Roma) are joining the squad, Gianluca Prestianni (Benfica) and Franco Mastantuono (Fiorentina) return. Mastantuono was famously a massive transfer from River Plate to Real Madrid, and though he’s yet to fully click on at the highest level, at 19-years-old, the promise is great.
Forlan and Gallardo Debut for Uruguay and Ecuador
Marcelo Gallardo (ex-River Plate) takes the reigns of Ecuador, a team with talent and ambition despite a poor World Cup performance, where they lost in the round of 32. “Ecuador, because of its quality and the raw material it has, is capable of competing on equal terms with any world-football powerhouse,” was the pull quote from Gallardo when he spoke in Quito on the 17th of September.
The nation has two friendlies in Asia scheduled, September 24th against South Korea, and October 1st against Japan, two countries that regularly qualify for the World Cup. While Gallardo didn’t announce the La Tri squad at his debut press conference, he did state the call-up would be similar to the 2026 World Cup, excluding injured players. Ecuador was already one of the youngest teams at the 2026 World Cup, and doesn’t have as much player turnover as other squads.
Uruguay begins life under the management of Diego Forlan, an ex-star for the nation. Uruguay will also travel to Asia, taking on South Korea and Japan, followed by India, where Forlan spent a season as a player. Forlan spoke to the press about the weight of the Uruguay jersey: “it is not easy to put on the Uruguay shirt and have that tranquility to have a good performance.” as Uruguay looked like a broken side at the 2026 World Cup.
Uruguay’s squad of 26 includes the in-form forward Federico Vinas (Toluca), and Martin Satriano from Getafe, along with Facundo Pellistri (Panathinaikos) three players Forlan hopes will finally break Uruguay’s goal drought. Rodrigo Salazar (Sporting CP), and Facundo Bernal (Real Betis) arrive in the midfield, along with the return of veteran Nahitan Nandez from the Saudi League. In the backline, Juan Rodriguez (Cagliari) will debut at age 21, alongside Santiago Mourino, a 21-year-old from Villarreal with just one cap.
Colombia Begins Life without Quintero and James
Nestor Lorenzo was renewed to lead Colombia, but he’s going to have to rebuild La Sele without either famed #10. James Rodriguez and Juan Fernando Quintero have both retired from the national team and rejoined Colombian domestic football in Medellin.
Colombia will play three friendlies in the United States, and then a special charity match in Cali, Colombia to support earthquake relief. First up is a big test against Mexico, followed by Paraguay and Peru.
The squad list, released on Thursday, sees a number of players on debut, including Independiente Del Valle goalkeeper Aldair Quintana (and the return of Kevin Mier in goal). 20-year-old Royer Caicedo (Cercle Brugge), Kevin Andrade (Zenit), and Edier Ocampo (Vancouver) are the defenders on debut, while 23-year-old Atletico Nacional defender Samuel Velasquez will also get more experience. In the midfield, Yaser Asprilla (Girona) returns, and there are four debutants. Atletico Nacional’s emerging attacking midfielder Juan Manuel Rengifo (21), Jhon Solis (21, Birmingham City), Matias Orozco (18, Castellon), and Club Leon’s Daniel Arcila, who had an amazing Leagues Cup.
One of the top strikers in Brazil, Kevin Viveros (Athletico Paranaense) will debut, along with Camilo Duran (Celtic), and Oscar Perea (Club America). Given the difficulties Colombia’s forwards had scoring at the 2026 World Cup, there’s a clear opportunity for Duran and Viveros in particular to have an impact. There was some frustration among supporters that in-form midfielder Nelson Deossa (Real Betis) was not called up.
Can Ancelotti Rebuild Brazil?
Carlo Ancelotti will now be working on a rebuild of Brazil, after Norway ousted them in the World Cup. This window, Brazil will take on Australia twice as part of an international tour, and then India to close the window. All three goalkeepers called up by Ancelotti are effectively newcomers, from the Brasileiro. There are five new defenders named, along 23-year-old Wesley Franca from Roma. The newcomers include Nottingham’s Forest Jair Cunha and Manchester City’s Vitor Reis.
In the midfield, the gifted footballer Breno Bidon from Corinthians will debut, Andrey Santos from Manchester United is here at age 22, along with Matheus Martinelli from Fluminense (24), and Gabriel Botempo from Santos. In the forward line, Samuel Lino (26) from Flamengo will get his second cap, 20-year-old Rayan also continues.
News and Notes from the Rest of CONEMBOL
Peru has a busy schedule ahead, playing four matches against World Cup teams in either the United States or Canada. This window they start with the United States and Mexico, followed by Canada and Colombia. Manager Mano Menezes said he called up players by focusing on their form in club football.
Bolivia will take on Paraguay in the United States before facing Argentina, while Paraguay has an interesting schedule, playing twice in the United States against Bolivia, and Colombia, before “b-side” friendlies against Singapore and Japan in Singapore. Neither side has confirmed their squad list yet.
Chile will take on Canada, the United States, and Mexico, all away from home, and then the charity match against Colombia. New faces include Thun’s Nils Reichmuth, Universidad de Chile’s Agustin Arce, and Colo-Colo’s Leandro Hernandez in the midfield, while 22-year-old Maximiliano Gutierrez (Dynamo Moscow) continues at forward.
Venezuela will travel to Asia, taking on Japan, South Korea, and Jordan, three sides that made the most recent World Cup. Players included in the squad include Rangers striker Kevin Kelsy (22), Inter Miami midfielder Telasco Segovia (23), and two CF Montreal midfielders, Daniel Pereira and Wikelman Carmona.
The Last Word
South America is turning the page. Messi’s farewell with Argentina is the emotional centerpiece of this window, while Colombia begins life without James Rodriguez and Juan Fernando Quintero. Brazil, Uruguay, and Ecuador are also entering new chapters, with Carlo Ancelotti, Diego Forlan, and Marcelo Gallardo beginning their respective rebuilds. At the same time, a wave of young players is getting an opportunity to establish themselves. The road to the 2028 Copa America has officially begun, and this international window offers the first glimpse of what the next generation of South American football could look like.
Main Photo Credit: Imago Images
