The Argentine national team received an early blow before the start of the 2026 World Cup, as it was confirmed that veteran defender Nicolás Otamendi will miss the opening match for "La Albiceleste" in the tournament.

Otamendi's absence is due to suspension, after being sent off in Argentina's match against Ecuador in the last round of the South American qualifiers for the World Cup, which ended with a 1-0 victory for Ecuador.

Otamendi (36 years old) is one of the key pillars in the Argentine national team's defense, possessing extensive experience in major tournaments, making his absence from the first match of the World Cup a significant loss for coach Lionel Scaloni's squad.

The coaching staff is expected to look for a ready replacement to compensate for the absence of the defensive captain in the first match of the World Cup.

The tournament will take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026, and will be jointly hosted by 16 cities in three North American countries: Canada, Mexico, and the United States.