Argentina Training Session & Press Conference
Argentina Training Session & Press Conference | Marcelo Endelli/GettyImages
Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister's national team Argentina return to action this Wednesday night as they take on Bolivia at Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes in Córdoba. It marks the Albiceleste's first outing since their painful World Cup final defeat to Spain in North America, where Ferran Torres scored in extra time to end their back-to-back title ambitions.
Now, with Lionel Messi’s international farewell looming on October 6, Lionel Scaloni has named an experimental squad to navigate this transitional period.
But for those watching from Merseyside, all eyes in Córdoba will be firmly fixed on Alexis Mac Allister, who enters this window on the back of a noticeable resurgence at Anfield under Andoni Iraola and amidst ongoing discussions regarding his long-term future at Liverpool.
Match preview & squad rotation
Before Spain ended their remarkable 14-match winning run in July, Scaloni’s side appeared all but unbeatable. History suggests Córdoba should provide the ideal setting to kick-start a new streak. Argentina have won nine of their last 10 meetings against Bolivia, keeping clean sheets in the last three encounters.
Oscar Villegas’s la Verde arrive in desperate need of a spark. Ranked 75 places below Argentina in the FIFA rankings, Bolivia missed out on their first World Cup since 1994 following a 2-1 inter-confederation playoff defeat to Iraq. They enter Wednesday's clash having suffered three consecutive friendly defeats against Scotland, Algeria, and Paraguay, failing to score while shipping 10 goals.
While Messi is part of the broader group, he is expected to be rested ahead of his farewell match, leaving new captain Cristian Romero to lead a squad featuring both core regulars and uncapped starlets. With Leandro Paredes suspended following his post-World Cup final conduct and both Juan Foyth and Thiago Almada sidelined through injury, Mac Allister’s presence alongside Enzo Fernández becomes vital for stability.
Mac Allister’s 2026/27 Liverpool campaign & contract debate
After a demanding 2025/26 campaign, where Liverpool struggled for consistency and Mac Allister looked drained by a relentless workload, the 27-year-old midfielder has looked noticeably revitalised this autumn.
Adapting to Andoni Iraola's intense physical setup, Mac Allister has quietly re-established himself as Liverpool's primary midfield dictator alongside Dominik Szoboszlai, He opened his European campaign with a vital goal in the 2-1 UEFA Champions League victory against Atlético Madrid, before scoring and assisting during the EFL third round Cup against Tottenham Hotspur, where the Reds went on triumph 3-1 on the night.
Additionally, in recent league outings against Nottingham Forest and AFC Bournemouth, Mac Allister's positional discipline and tackle success have provided necessary balance in central areas.
What time does Argentina vs Bolivia kick off?
Location: Córdoba, Argentina
Stadium: Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes
Date: Wednesday, Oct. 30
Kick-off Time: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT / 1 a.m. BST (Oct. 1)
How to Watch
United Kingdom: Watch live on Premier Sports 2 or stream it on the Premier Player app. Kickoff is set for 1:00 AM BST on Thursday morning.
United States: Watch live on Fubo, TUDN, TyC Sports, or stream in Spanish via ViX. Kickoff is at 8:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM PT on Wednesday evening.
Argentina: Free-to-air broadcast on Telefe, and streaming on MiTelefe or Telefe's official YouTube channel.
Elsewhere: Streams are available via Fanatiz in select countries.
Predicted Lineups:
Argentina possible starting lineup:
Rulli; Giay, Romero, Martinez, Tagliafico; Mac Allister, Fernandez; Simeone, Paz, Gonzalez; Martinez
Bolivia possible starting lineup:
Viscarra; Morales, Haquin, Arroyo; Medina, Cuellar, Melgar, Villamil, Fernandez; Miguel, Nava
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