Argentina vs Venezuela: A Historic Farewell for Messi in the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers
Argentina vs Venezuela Match Today: A Symbolic Summit in Buenos Aires
Argentina hosts the Venezuela national team in the seventeenth round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, at the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires.
The match holds historical significance, as it may be Lionel Messi's last appearance in World Cup qualifiers at home in front of the tango fans.
Argentina vs Venezuela Match Date and Broadcast Channels
📅 Date: Thursday, September 4, 2025
🏟️ Stadium: Monumental – Buenos Aires
⏰ Time: 8:30 PM Argentina Time (7:30 PM Eastern Time)
📺 Live Broadcast: Telemundo, Universo, Premier Sports, and NFL+ in some international markets
Expected Lineup for Argentina Against Venezuela
Attack: Lionel Messi – Julian Alvarez – Thiago Almada
Midfield: Rodrigo De Paul – Enzo Fernandez – Nico Paz (candidate to participate)
Defense: Otamendi – Romero – Nahuel Molina – Acuña
Goalkeeper: Emiliano Martinez
On the other hand, the Venezuelan team will rely on the experience of Salomon Rondon and the support of Sabarino and Soteldo in attack to try to pull off a surprise.
Messi and the Last Dance in World Cup Qualifiers
Messi confirmed that the match against Venezuela could be his last in World Cup qualifiers on Argentine soil.
The fans consider the encounter as an early farewell celebration for the tango legend, who led his country to win the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Argentina and Venezuela's Standings in the Qualifiers
✅ Argentina has already secured qualification with 35 points and leads the group.
🇻🇪 Venezuela is in seventh place, fighting to stay in contention for the sixth place that qualifies for the international playoff.
Ranking of South American Teams (Excerpt):
| Rank | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Argentina | 35 |
| 2 | Brazil | 31 |
| 3 | Uruguay | 29 |
| 7 | Venezuela | 18 |
History of Encounters Between Argentina and Venezuela
Argentina has a clear advantage with 10 victories and 3 draws.
Venezuela achieved two historic surprises by winning in 2011 and 2019.
The last encounter between them ended with Argentina winning 3-0.
Why is the Argentina vs Venezuela Match Important?
⚽ For Argentina: An opportunity to honor Messi and strengthen the lead.
🇻🇪 For Venezuela: A last hope to stay in the global playoff race.
🌍 For the world: A symbolic event that could be Messi's farewell to World Cup qualifiers on home soil.
Conclusion
The match Argentina vs Venezuela is not just a qualifier, but a historic football occasion that may be recorded as Messi's last appearance in Buenos Aires in World Cup qualifiers.
While the tango enters confidently after securing qualification, Venezuela approaches the match with a fighting spirit hoping to remain in contention.
