Argentina will face Ecuador in what will be their first competitive match since Qatar last year, when they were crowned champions of the world.
After beating France on penalties to lift the World Cup trophy, their attention now turns to CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying for 2026, which begins this month.
Argentina will face Ecuador, Bolivia, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay, before ending the calendar year with what should be a thrilling trip to Brazil. They expansion of the next World Cup from 32 to 48 teams means this latest qualification cycle is likely to become something of a gruelling affair.
Lionel Messi will take a brief break from his scintillating form for MLS side Inter Miami to join up with the national team, for whom he could earn his 176th senior cap.
The Sporting News guides you through the kick-off time, where to watch and how to stream their clash with Ecuador on Thursday/Friday depending on where you are in the world.
LIVE BLOG: Follow along with highlights & commentary as Argentina opens World Cup qualifying
What time does Argentina vs Ecuador kick off?
This World Cup qualifying match kicks off at 9 p.m. local time at Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Here is how that time translate to timezones in different territories:
| Date | Kickoff time | |
| USA | Thur, Sept. 7 | 8 p.m. ET |
| Canada | Thur, Sept. 7 | 8 p.m. ET |
| UK | Fri, Sept. 8 | 1 a.m. BST |
| India | Fri, Sept. 8 | 5:30 a.m. IST |
| Hong Kong | Fri, Sept. 8 | 8 a.m. HKT |
| Malaysia | Fri, Sept. 8 | 8 a.m. MYT |
| Singapore | Fri, Sept. 8 | 8 a.m. SGT |
| Australia | Fri, Sept. 8 | 11 a.m. AEDT |
| New Zealand | Fri, Sept. 8 | 12 p.m. NZST |
Argentina vs Ecuador live stream, TV channel
Following a late agreement, broadcast rights for Argentina's World Cup qualifiers in the United States have been secured by Telemundo and Univision. That means viewers in the USA should be able to stream this match via ViX, TelevisaUnivision's Spanish-language service.
It will also now be broadcast on TV in Spanish language via Telemundo in the United States. Fubo subscribers can also access that channel.
The match is not set to be available globally to regions including Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. This page will be updated should further broadcast options become available.
MORE: Watch Premier League matches live with Fubo in USA
| TV channel | Streaming | |
| USA | Telemundo | ViX, Fubo |
| UK | — | — |
| Australia | — | — |
| Canada | — | — |
| India | — | — |
| New Zealand | — | — |
| Malaysia | — | — |
| Singapore | — | — |
| Hong Kong | — | — |
Argentina vs Ecuador lineups, team news
To nobody's surprise, Lionel Scaloni has called up Lionel Messi for this set of international games.
Along with the Inter Miami star, Scaloni has also selected two other MLS players. Thiago Almada of Atlanta United and Alan Velasco of FC Dallas were picked in the squad for matches against Ecuador and Bolivia.
Manchester United forward Alejandro Garnacho has been tipped to start this game in Buenos Aires.
MORE: Lionel Messi odds to score against Ecuador
Argentina projected lineup (4-3-3): E. Martinez — Molina, Romero, L. Martinez, Medina — Paredes, Palacios, De Paul — J. Alvarez, Messi, Garnacho
Chelsea's record-breaking signing Moises Caicedo has been called up to the Ecuador side and will play for his country for the first time since arriving at Stamford Bridge.
Ecuador projected lineup (3-5-2): Dominguez — Arboleda, Pacho, F. Torres — Preciado, Alcivar, Cifuentes, Caicedo, Estupinan — Valencia, Rodriguez
Argentina vs Ecuador prediction, odds
Argentina do not tend to blow teams away but it is expected they will claim a comfortable enough win to begin their qualifying campaign for 2026.
Prediction: Argentina 2-0 Ecuador
MORE: How many goals has Lionel Messi scored for Inter Miami this season?
| Argentina win | Draw | Ecuador win | Both teams to score Y / N | Over / Under 2.5 goals | ARG -1.5 | ECU +1.5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BetMGM (USA) | -275 | +400 | +800 | +120 / -175 | -130 / -110 | +100 | -135 |
| Sports Interaction (Canada) | 1.36 | 4.34 | 9.00 | 2.37 / 1.45 | 2.08 / 1.70 | 2.16 | 1.65 |
| Unibet (Australia) | 1.37 | 4.80 | 9.50 | 2.23 / 1.61 | 1.88 / 1.92 | — | — |
| Dafabet (India) | 1.38 | 5.20 | 9.00 | 2.23 / 1.66 | 1.84 / 1.98 | 2.11 | 1.74 |
