Palmeiras forward Jose Manuel Lopez has been called up to the Argentina national team for the September World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela and Ecuador.
Jose Manuel Lopez, the talented forward from Palmeiras, has earned his first call-up to the Argentina national team ahead of their upcoming World Cup qualifiers. The 23-year-old has been included in the squad for the crucial matches against Venezuela and Ecuador in early September, marking a significant milestone in his international career.
After joining Palmeiras from Lanús in 2022, Lopez has been in fine form, netting 15 goals in 42 appearances so far in 2025. His performances have caught the eye of Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni, who has decided to bring him into the fold for their World Cup qualifying campaign. Lopez has also scored four goals in Brazil’s Serie A this season, continuing his impressive rise.
Argentina’s World Cup Dreams Continue with Key Figures
Lopez’s inclusion is part of a broader effort to strengthen the squad as Argentina looks to defend their World Cup title in 2026. With Lionel Messi, now playing for Inter Miami, leading the charge and Rodrigo De Paul also featuring in the squad, the team is stacked with world-class talent. The list also includes promising young stars like Franco Mastantuono of Real Madrid and Claudio Echeverri from Manchester City, adding to the depth of Argentina’s talent pool.
Scaloni’s Focus on Strengthening the Squad
As the defending World Cup champions, Argentina’s priority is ensuring that their team remains competitive on the world stage. While they have already secured qualification for the 2026 tournament, the upcoming September qualifiers against Venezuela and Ecuador offer a chance for Scaloni to test his squad further before the tournament kicks off.
Next Steps for Argentina
With the team already on top of the South American qualifiers standings, Argentina will begin their September campaign with a home match against Venezuela on September 4 in Buenos Aires. Following that, they will travel to Guayaquil to face Ecuador on September 9, rounding off their final qualifying fixtures before the next World Cup.
