Unpaid World Cup Bonuses Force Argentina Roster Shake-Up
Argentine Football Association friction over unpaid World Cup bonuses could lead manager Lionel Scaloni to omit Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martinez from the national team roster ahead of the squad announcement on September 14, 2026. The potential omission follows administrative unrest within the federation, where players have yet to receive financial distributions stemming from their tournament win.
AFA Administrative Instability Triggers Squad Rest Strategy
Excluding key European-based players allows Scaloni to bypass travel demands for upcoming friendlies against Burkina Faso, Bolivia, and Benin. Inter Milan received a pre-call-up notice for Martinez, but administrative instability and ongoing legal proceedings surrounding AFA President Claudio Tapia have accelerated plans to keep senior figures with their clubs until November. Scaloni and assistant coach Walter Samuel have declined to negotiate contract extensions past December 2026 amid frustration with federation governance.
Lautaro Martinez
playerThe decision provides squad relief for Inter Milan, allowing their starting forward to remain at the club during the two-week international hiatus.
This development was reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport.