Messi’s last game in Argentina before 2026 World Cup: AFA announces friendly vs Mauritania

In recent weeks, Argentina faced uncertainty regarding their fixtures for the March international break, following the cancellation of the Finalissima. On Friday, the friendly against Mauritania was confirmed, likely marking Lionel Messi’s last game on home soil before the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

“The team led by Lionel Scaloni is beginning to say farewell to their fans before departing to defend the World Cup title. On Friday, 27 March, at La Bombonera, the Argentina national team will take on Mauritania,” the Argentine Football Association said in a statement published on its official website.

The choice of Mauritania came from the need to find an opponent on short notice, after the Finalissima against Spain was cancelled and efforts to arrange friendlies against Honduras and Guatemala fell through.

Argentina had planned to play those two Central American national teams during the March international break in Buenos Aires, but the fact that both Honduras and Guatemala were scheduled to play matches in Europe during the same window made it impossible. FIFA rules prohibit a national team from competing on two continents during the same international break.

One of Messi’s last matches in Argentina

As AFA noted when confirming that the friendly against Mauritania will serve as something of a farewell to the country before the World Cup, it will also be one of Lionel Messi’s final opportunities to play in front of local fans.

In fact, Argentina’s 3‑0 win over Venezuela in the World Cup qualifiers in September 2025 was his last official match on Argentine soil. Messi scored twice in that game in Buenos Aires, in what was widely described as his final competitive home appearance for the national team before the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

It’s likely that Scaloni’s team will not return to Argentina before the World Cup, as the next FIFA international break falls just before the start of the tournament and the squad will already be based in the United States for that period.

What about Mauritania?

It is clear that for Lionel Scaloni’s planning, facing Mauritania will not be the same as what the match against Spain in the Finalissima would have represented. Far from the level of challenge presented by playing the European champions, their newly confirmed opponent will pose a much smaller test.

Mauritania have never qualified for a World Cup. In fact, in the African qualifiers for this summer’s FIFA tournament, they managed only one win in 10 matches. Mauritania currently occupy 115th place in the FIFA rankings.