Former Argentine football coach Ricardo Caruso Lombardi alleged that officials manipulated the national team roster for the 2026 World Cup [1].
These claims suggest internal instability within the squad selection process, potentially casting doubt on the transparency of the coaching staff's decisions before the tournament.
During an appearance on the TN television program “¿La Ves?” on May 31, 2026, Lombardi discussed the recently published squad [1, 2]. He provided a humorous assessment of Argentina's opponents, suggesting the matchups would be easy for the team [2]. However, the tone shifted when he discussed the specific players selected and those left behind [1].
Lombardi alleged that the exclusion of certain players was not based solely on sporting merit. He specifically mentioned the absence of player Acuña and the inclusion of Montiel. "Acuña quedó afuera; a Montiel lo iban a limpiar y no pudieron," Lombardi said [3].
Reports on the broadcast vary regarding who Lombardi specifically blamed for these roster decisions. Some sources indicate he accused coach Marcelo Paredes of leaving Acuña out of the squad [1]. Other reports suggest he viewed the situation as a broader internal effort to "clean" the roster that failed in the case of Montiel [3].
Throughout the interview, Lombardi maintained that his assertions were based on private data. "Tengo información," he said [4]. He further questioned the motivations behind certain selections, asking, "¿Y si lo lleva por otra cosa?" [5].
The comments were broadcast on May 31, 2026, and subsequently shared on TN’s YouTube channel [1, 2]. The claims regarding the 2026 [1] squad have sparked debate among fans, and analysts regarding the influence of non-sporting factors on the national team's composition.
“"Acuña quedó afuera; a Montiel lo iban a limpiar y no pudieron"”
The allegations by Caruso Lombardi highlight the intense scrutiny and internal politics surrounding the Argentine national team. By claiming that roster decisions were manipulated or influenced by factors other than performance, Lombardi taps into existing tensions regarding squad loyalty and coaching transparency ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
