Lionel Messi returns to international duty with Argentina, training with the national team, as South America’s long qualifying road to the 2026 World Cup kicks off against Ecuador. Argentina will face Moisés Caicedo’s Ecuador on Thursday at the Monumental de Nuñez Stadium in its first official match since winning the World cup in December. The last time a World Cup winner played in South American qualifying was in 2003, when Brazil had to secure its spot in a tournament with 32 teams. The 2026 edition in the United States, Mexico and Canada is expanding to a 48-team format, which means the number of direct spots from South America increases from four to six and the seventh-place team goes into an intercontinental playoff for another place. if you want more update please like comment and subscribe this channel @sportsbass