Buenos Aires, Nov 13:

Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has renewed his contract with the national team until July 2030, positioning himself to become the first manager in history to lead La Albiceleste at three FIFA World Cup tournaments.

Announced by Argentine Football Association (AFA) president Claudio Tapia on Thursday, the new agreement extends Scaloni’s tenure beyond his previous contract—which was due to expire in December 2026—and covers his coaching staff for the 2027–30 cycle. The renewal puts an end to speculation over his future following Argentina’s 1-0 loss to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final in July. “After giving it some thought and discussing it with my coaching staff and those close to me, we decided that continuing is the best path forward,” Scaloni told reporters, adding that he remains as enthusiastic as he was on his first day in charge.

Having taken over in September 2018, Scaloni guided Argentina to the 2021 and 2024 Copa América titles, the 2022 Finalissima, and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, ending a 36-year title drought. Leading Argentina at the 2030 edition will see him surpass the two-tournament World Cup stints of César Luis Menotti and Carlos Bilardo, as the squad begins a post-Lionel Messi transition starting with this month’s friendlies against Uruguay and Costa Rica.