Lionel Messi Nursing 'Muscle Fatigue, Hamstring Strain'; Huge Crowd Gathers For Argentina's World Cup Training
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is just around the corner, and reigning champions Argentina are gearing up for their title defense. However, the team has been dealt an injury concern with star player...
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is just around the corner, and reigning champions Argentina are gearing up for their title defense. However, the team has been dealt an injury concern with star player Lionel Messi nursing a muscle fatigue and a mild strain in his left hamstring. The team has announced that Messi's recovery time will depend on "his clinical and functional progress", making it uncertain whether he will participate in the upcoming friendlies.
Messi Injury Concern Ahead of World Cup
Argentina's first training session, which was open to the media, drew hundreds of reporters to the facilities of Major League Soccer club Sporting Kansas City. The team, led by coach Lionel Scaloni, has been practicing in the evening to avoid the heat and humidity of Midwestern summers. Despite the injury concern, the team is confident in their ability to defend their title, with 17 players from the 2022 World Cup-winning team returning for the 2026 campaign.
Training in Kansas City
The team has been training at the facilities of Sporting Kansas City, with Messi joining the team on a separate charter from Florida. The players have been welcomed with Midwestern hospitality, with hundreds of fans waiting outside the Origin Hotel to greet them. However, the team's stay has not been without incident, with a heavy storm rolling through and knocking over several tents and fences that had been put up for security.
Argentina's 26-man World Cup roster includes 17 players from the 2022 World Cup-winning team
The team will play two World Cup tune-up matches against Honduras and Iceland before resuming training in Kansas City
England and the Netherlands will also be based in Kansas City for the World Cup, with Algeria making its base at the University of Kansas
As the World Cup approaches, Kansas City is gearing up to host some of the biggest teams in the tournament. With its central location and state-of-the-art facilities, the city is an ideal location for teams to base themselves. NDTV Sports will be providing live updates and coverage of the tournament, so be sure to check back for all the latest news and scores.
World Cup Coverage
For more information on the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including schedules, teams, and scores, be sure to check out NDTV Sports. You can also
Source context derived from original reporting via Google News Search.
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