Scaloni Confident Paraguay Ban Won’t Impact Messi Jerseys

Argentina coach, Lionel Scaloni, is confident there will be Lionel Messi jerseys in the home section despite the Paraguayan Football Association’s (APF) ban on rival shirts ahead of Thursday’s South American World Cup 2026 qualifier.

Argentina is set to face Paraguay at the Defensores del Chaco stadium in Asuncion on Thursday. APF manager Fernando Villasboa has advised the home crowd to wear only Paraguayan jerseys, stating that shirts from Argentina, Argentine clubs, or those featuring names of players from other countries will not be permitted.

“We won’t allow the other team’s shirt. It’s not a problem against Messi. We respect the careers of all footballers. It’s just that the home ground is very important to us,” Villasboa told local press on Wednesday.

Paraguay coach Gustavo Alfaro said, “I have nothing to do with the t-shirt ban. I had no idea about that. I think the idea is to reduce the margin of a possible source of conflict.”

“Messi is our rival tomorrow, I wish him the best game of his life against Peru, but not tomorrow,” he added.

However, Scaloni said the global impact of Argentina’s number 10, the country’s all-time leading scorer and World Cup winner, is far greater.

“Logically, for the Paraguayan footballer, for the fans, they all want to wear the national team shirt. But Leo (Messi) is stronger than all that and there will be Argentina shirts,” Scaloni told a news conference on Wednesday.

“It doesn’t mean they don’t support Paraguay. I think it’s good that football people recognize what he is. And it’s not because you have a shirt that you become an Argentina fan.”

Argentina is currently leading the South American standings with 22 points, holding a three-point advantage over Colombia. 

Following the match against Paraguay, they will host Peru on November 19th.