Lionel Scaloni plans to wait until the final permitted moment before sending Argentina’s 26-player World Cup list, as several regulars, including Lionel Messi, manage injuries ahead of the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico, with FIFA’s 1 June deadline approaching.

While England, France and Germany have already confirmed their squads, Argentina are still holding back the official names. FIFA receive the final lists by 1 June, with the global announcement following on 2 June, leaving Scaloni limited time for late fitness checks.

The main worry surrounds Messi, who is recovering from a hamstring problem sustained when playing for Inter Miami. Tottenham defender Cristian Romero is also doubtful, as Romero continues treatment for a ligament sprain in the right knee and faces a tight schedule to regain full fitness.

Nahuel Molina and Gonzalo Montiel are also handling muscle issues at this stage, adding further uncertainty in defensive areas. Como midfielder Nico Paz missed the club’s final Serie A fixture because of a knee injury, increasing the number of players arriving with restricted minutes and reduced preparation.

Scaloni explained that the technical staff intend to use every remaining day to judge fitness levels. “We’re taking all the time given to assess the players’ condition and finalise the 26-man squad,” Scaloni told Radio La Red. “After that, we won’t risk any players in the friendlies; we’ll use a mix of players.”

Argentina will complete preparations with two warm-up matches against Honduras and Iceland before travelling to the main World Cup venues. Scaloni indicated that these games will likely feature rotated line-ups, as the staff aim to avoid setbacks for players returning from recent muscle or ligament problems.

Despite the ongoing injuries, reports in Spain indicate Real Madrid midfielder Franco Mastantuono is still expected to miss out on the final Argentina squad. Mastantuono has found the first season with Los Blancos difficult, recording three goals across 38 matches in all competitions, starting only 20 of those games.

Argentina’s defence of the World Cup title starts against Algeria on 16 June. The holders then face Austria and Jordan in Group J, with all three fixtures crucial for early momentum and for confirming whether the late injury management approach brings the desired physical condition.

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Those who ended the season injured will head to the United States with hardly any training under their belts, Scaloni added. Next Monday will be the first training session for most of them. Hopefully they’ll all be fit and ready for the first match. They don’t have any serious injuries, but we need to pace them and take care of them, especially with certain players in key positions. That’s why the coaching staff and I are waiting until the last minute.

The national team message of unity around the “Celeste y Blanca” remains strong as decisions near, highlighted again on official channels.

Scaloni’s approach keeps focus on medical evaluations rather than early certainty, with key figures such as Messi, Romero, Molina, Montiel and Paz managed cautiously. Argentina enter the tournament as defending champions, balancing optimism over recovery timelines with the practical need to protect essential players.