Argentina Begins Post-Messi Era with Bolivia Friendly

Argentina’s post-Lionel Messi era will officially begin with a friendly match against Bolivia on September 30, as announced by the Argentine Football Association. This match will occur in Cordoba, and will be followed by two additional friendlies against Burkina Faso and Benin on October 3 and 6, respectively, at River Plate’s Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires.

FIFA has mandated that Argentina's next home match be played with a reduced capacity of 50 percent due to breaches of its disciplinary code, which involved players displaying a political banner after their World Cup semi-final victory over England. The upcoming friendlies are also expected to address suspensions given to players following incidents after Argentina's World Cup final loss to Spain.

Midfielder Leandro Paredes received a 10-match ban, while defender Nahuel Molina was suspended for seven games and Thiago Almada for one. Lionel Messi announced his retirement from international football on August 31, shortly after the World Cup final.