Reigning world champions Argentina will host Venezuela for a FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers match at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires on Friday.
The Argentina vs Venezuela football match is scheduled to start at 5:00 AM IST (Indian Standard Time).
The Argentina football team will be led by Lionel Messi for the match. They are on top of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers – CONMEBOL standings with 35 points (11 wins, 2 draw and three losses) and are already assured qualification.
“I don’t know if there will be friendlies or more matches (at home), but it is a very special match, so my family will be there with me: my wife, my children, my parents, my siblings,” Messi said on the prospect of playing his last international match in Argentina. “We’re going to live it like that. I don’t know what will happen next.”
The top six from the 10-team group, competing in a home and away round-robin league format, qualify directly for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in the USA, Canada and Mexico. The seventh team will make the Inter-confederation play-offs.
Venezuela are seventh with 18 points (four wins, six draws and five losses) and their fate hangs in the balance.
The last time two football teams took the field was in the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying campaign in October 2024. Nicolas Otamendi’s first-half strike gave Argentina the lead, which was cancelled by Salomon Rondon in the second.
This will be the 30th Argentina vs Venezuela football match. Argentina have claimed 24 wins in the 29 meetings so far while Venezuela have managed just two.
Argentina come into the match on the back of a 1-1 stalemate against Colombia while Venezuela were beaten 2-0 by Uruguay.
Where to watch Argentina vs Venezuela FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers live in India
Live streaming of Argentina vs Venezuela in the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers match will be available on FanCode. There is no telecast of the ARG vs VEN football match on any TV channel in India.