Chile vs. Argentina: Confirmed lineups with Lionel Messi’s participation uncertain

The CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers are entering their decisive stage, and soon we’ll know which national teams have secured a ticket to the 2026 World Cup, which will head to the playoff round, and which three will be eliminated. Every point is crucial, and no team can afford to ease up—especially those still dreaming of reaching the biggest stage in global soccer.

So far, the only team officially qualified is Argentina. Lionel Scaloni’s squad leads the table with authority, sitting on 31 points—eight ahead of second-place Ecuador. The Albiceleste have been consistent and now aim to close out the qualifiers strong, refining their team chemistry ahead of the World Cup.

This Thursday at 9:00 PM ET, Argentina will visit Chile for Matchday 15. The game, set to be played on Chilean soil, is more than just another qualifier—it’s a fierce South American rivalry. Scaloni’s team will look to keep sharpening their tactics and individual form ahead of the tournament.

Things look much tougher for Chile, who sit at the bottom of the standings with just 10 points. A win is absolutely necessary if they want to keep their playoff hopes alive. Head coach Ricardo Gareca knows there’s no room for error—anything less than three points could be a fatal blow.

Confirmed lineups for Chile vs. Argentina

Argentina: Emiliano Martínez; Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Leonardo Balerdi, Nicolás Tagliafico; Giuliano Simeone, Rodrigo De Paul, Exequiel Palacios, Thiago Almada; Lionel Messi, Julián Álvarez.

Chile: Brayan Cortés; Felipe Loyola, Guillermo Maripán, Francisco Sierralta, Gabriel Suazo; Arturo Vidal, Rodrigo Echeverría, Vicente Pizarro; Darío Osorio, Alexis Sánchez, Lucas Cepeda.