Argentina’s men’s national football team defeated Iceland 3-0 on Tuesday in its final preparation match ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Lionel Scaloni’s side needed a convincing display in its final buildup to the tournament after facing Honduras on Saturday with a heavily rotated lineup.
It got exactly that. Argentina seized control from the outset, taking the lead less than eight minutes into the match through midfielder Valentín Barco. Following a scrambled sequence in the penalty area, the former Boca Juniors prodigy unleashed a volley from outside the box that found the back of the net.
Despite creating a handful of additional chances, Barco’s strike remained the standout moment of an otherwise uneventful first half.
Scaloni made five changes after the break, but the most notable came in the 67th minute when captain Lionel Messi replaced Giovani Simeone, making his first appearance since mid-May.
