Back in Spain

The Argentina national team, reigning World Cup champions and back-to-back Copa América winners, began their training camp on Monday in the town of Algorfa, near Alicante, Spain, as they prepare for Friday’s friendly against Angola.

The match will be played in Luanda at 1:00 p.m. (Argentina time) and marks Lionel Messi’s return to international duty, as the Albiceleste continue their preparations for the 2026 World Cup.

Players began arriving at the La Finca Resort on Sunday night — a top-tier sports and hotel complex regularly used by national teams and professional clubs such as Georgia and Elche. The team held its first closed training session on Monday, while head coach Lionel Scaloni is scheduled to speak at a press conference on Thursday, November 13, before the team’s departure.

A Friendly With a World Cup Focus

The coaching staff chose Spain as their training base for its facilities and proximity to Africa. The squad will travel to Angola on Thursday, one day before the match, and will return to Algorfa afterward.
Messi and several senior players will be released following the game, while the rest of the squad will remain in camp until November 18, when the training period officially concludes.

A second friendly, originally planned against India, was eventually canceled. According to Scaloni’s staff, the focus remains on maintaining rhythm and testing new tactical options ahead of Argentina’s 2025 schedule.

A Return With Historical Meaning

Argentina’s return to Alicante carries historical significance. The province served as the national team’s base during the 1982 World Cup, where a young Diego Maradona scored his first two goals in the tournament — both against Hungary.

The Albiceleste last played in Alicante in October 2019, when they crushed Ecuador 6–1 at the Martínez Valero Stadium in Elche.

Now, over four decades later, Lionel Messi is back in Spain — this time as a World Champion, ready to lead Argentina into a new era of preparation and ambition.