Argentina host Uruguay on the evening of Friday 13 November at La Bombonera in Buenos Aires in a friendly during the FIFA international window. Kick-off is at 20:00 local time, and the match will be broadcast on TyC Sports and Telefe.
Argentina enter the match under coach Lionel Scaloni, in their first appearance since Lionel Messi’s international retirement. Scaloni aims to give minutes to new players and solidify the team’s structure ahead of upcoming commitments, with Rodrigo De Paul and Lautaro Martínez absent.
Uruguay, meanwhile, are led by interim coach Diego Forlán, who took over from Marcelo Bielsa. Forlán’s recent Asian tour ended with two wins and one loss.
Experimental line-ups and notable absences
Argentina are set to field a young attacking trio of Nicolás Paz, Julián Álvarez and Thiago Almada, with Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister and Exequiel Palacios managing the midfield. Uruguay rely on Federico Valverde and Rodrigo Bentancur in midfield, and Darwin Núñez in attack.
There are multiple reports regarding Argentina’s goalkeeper position, with journalistic sources indicating the choice could be between Emiliano Martínez and Gerónimo Rulli, while other sources suggest Rulli is the primary candidate. The published line-ups also vary in some positions between sources, reflecting the experimental nature of the match.
Regarding attendance, journalistic reports indicated limited ticket sales, leading to the closure of some stands and redistribution of fans. The reports clarified that this emptiness is unrelated to the capacity reduction penalty imposed on Argentina.
Historical context and a new test for both teams
Argentina have a clear advantage in the historical head-to-head record, winning 92 of 196 matches, compared to 58 wins for Uruguay and 46 draws. In their last two meetings, Argentina won 1-0 in Montevideo on 21 March 2025 with a goal from Thiago Almada, while Uruguay won 2-0 at La Bombonera on 16 November 2023.
This match represents an important milestone for Arab and North African fans following Latin American football, as it opens the door to learning about Argentina’s new generation after the Messi era. It also constitutes an initial test for Forlán in leading Uruguay after Bielsa’s departure.
InfoSport numbers
- 92 wins for Argentina in 196 historical encounters against Uruguay.
- The only goal in their last meeting was scored by Thiago Almada on 21 March 2025.
- Argentina’s first match after Messi’s international retirement.
After this match, Argentina travel to Córdoba to face Costa Rica on Tuesday 17 November. You can follow our other reports on Latin American national teams in our sports section.
