Several players will be given the chance to impress when Argentina take on Puerto Rico in Florida on Tuesday night.

Argentina will look to round off their short tour of the United States with another victory when they face Puerto Rico in a friendly encounter at Chase Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, on Tuesday night. Fresh off a narrow 1-0 win over Venezuela in Miami, Lionel Scaloni’s men will be expected to assert their dominance once again against a side ranked over 150 places below them in the FIFA World Rankings.

For the hosts, this fixture represents both an honour and a daunting challenge. Puerto Rico have not played since June, when their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign concluded with a morale-boosting 2-1 victory over Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Despite ending on a high, that result was not enough to progress beyond the second stage of qualifying, as they finished behind Suriname and El Salvador in Group F.

With this being their first-ever meeting with Argentina, Puerto Rico approach the match with little pressure and plenty to gain. Under coach Charlie Trout, the side has made modest strides in recent years, showing greater organization and discipline, but their technical limitations are likely to be exposed by a world-class Argentine unit. Ranked 155th in the world, Puerto Rico will treat this fixture as a valuable learning opportunity and a chance to test themselves against elite opposition.

On the other hand, Argentina are continuing to build momentum ahead of the 2026 World Cup, which they will defend across North America next summer. The reigning champions topped the CONMEBOL qualifying table with a nine-point lead, securing 12 wins from 18 matches while playing some of the most composed football in the region.

Their only blemish in recent months came in a narrow 1-0 defeat to Ecuador, but they quickly rebounded by beating Venezuela last week, courtesy of a well-taken goal from Giovani Lo Celso. Lionel Messi was rested for that match to feature for Inter Miami, highlighting Scaloni’s flexibility in balancing squad development with player welfare.

Even without their talismanic captain, Argentina remain an extraordinarily deep and cohesive unit. The blend of veteran leaders like Nicolas Otamendi and Rodrigo De Paul with younger stars such as Julian Alvarez, Enzo Fernandez, and Alexis Mac Allister continues to serve them well. With several fringe players eager to impress before next year’s showpiece, this friendly will likely feature experimentation without compromising intensity.

Given the gulf in quality, La Albiceleste are heavy favourites to win comfortably. Puerto Rico will aim to stay compact and avoid a blowout, but Argentina’s relentless control of possession, movement between the lines, and pressing from the front should make this an exercise in damage limitation for the hosts. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up and what tactics they might employ on the day.

Team News & Tactics

Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico head coach Charlie Trout will be without any major injury or suspension concerns heading into the clash with Argentina. That comes as a small boost for the island nation as they prepare to face one of the strongest sides in world football.

The absence of fitness worries gives Trout the opportunity to field his best possible XI, although his tactical focus will likely be on defensive organization and structured resistance rather than attacking ambition. Given Argentina’s quality, Puerto Rico are expected to play in a compact shape and rely on counters or set pieces to create rare openings.

In goal, Sebastian Cutler is expected to start ahead of Joel Serrano, with the 22-year-old Villanova University goalkeeper preparing for what will undoubtedly be a demanding evening. His shot-stopping and composure under pressure will be vital if Puerto Rico are to limit the damage.

The defensive line will likely consist of Beto Ydrach and Sidney Paris operating as full-backs on the right and left flanks, respectively, while Nicolas Cardona and Giovanni Calderon should pair up at the heart of the back four. Their primary task will be to contain Argentina’s fluid front line and block shooting lanes around the penalty area. Expect the back four to sit deep and narrow, minimizing the spaces for Argentina’s creative midfielders to exploit.

In midfield, Puerto Rico could deploy a crowded five-man line to stifle Argentina’s passing rhythm. Wilfredo Rivera, Steven Echevarria, Juan O’Neill, Gerald Diaz, and Noeh Hernandez are expected to form the midfield, with O’Neill and Diaz anchoring the center to provide defensive cover. Rivera and Hernandez, positioned on the wings, will be responsible for tracking Argentina’s attacking full-backs and offering occasional width during rare forays forward.

Leading the line will be Leandro Antonetti, the Estrela da Amadora forward, who will operate as the lone striker. His role will largely involve pressing the Argentine defenders when possible and holding up the ball to allow teammates to join transitions. Given the likely dominance of possession by Argentina, Antonetti’s work rate and ability to chase long balls will be crucial in relieving pressure from his defense.

This 4-5-1 formation will reflect Puerto Rico’s pragmatic approach, prioritising defensive solidity, compactness, and discipline in the middle of the park. While chances will be scarce, the aim will be to frustrate the world champions for as long as possible and make the most of any counter-attacking opportunities that arise.

Probable Lineup (4-5-1): Cutler; Ydrach, Cardona, Calderon, Paris; Hernandez, Echeverria, O’Neill, Diaz, W. Rivera; Antonetti

Argentina

Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni will once again have the luxury of depth but also faces a few selection concerns ahead of the clash against Puerto Rico. Prior to their narrow win over Venezuela, the national team confirmed that Franco Mastantuono had been forced to withdraw from the squad due to a thigh injury. His absence will be felt in attacking rotations, especially given his recent rise in prominence for Real Madrid.

Adding to the injury list, Enzo Fernandez played a key role in the victory over Venezuela but has since returned to Chelsea after sustaining a minor knee problem. Scaloni has opted to rest him as a precautionary measure, with the midfielder expected to regain full fitness before club duties resume.

Meanwhile, all eyes remain on Lionel Messi, who featured for Inter Miami over the weekend, scoring twice in their 4-0 win against Atlanta United. It remains unclear whether the Argentina captain will rejoin the national team setup for this friendly or be given extended rest to recover ahead of the MLS regular season’s final stretch. Given the opponent and Argentina’s strength in depth, Scaloni may choose to preserve him for upcoming fixtures rather than risk fatigue.

With qualification for the 2026 World Cup already secured, Scaloni could rotate his squad heavily, giving opportunities to those on the fringes. Nicolas Otamendi, Alexis Mac Allister, Rodrigo De Paul, Nicolas Gonzalez, and Giuliano Simeone are all in line to start at Chase Stadium, as Argentina continue to refine combinations and evaluate emerging talents.

In terms of formation, Argentina are likely to continue with a 4-3-3 setup, emphasising fluid ball progression and wide attacking play. Emiliano Martinez should retain his place in goal, offering leadership and reliability at the back. In defence, Gonzalo Montiel and Nicolas Tagliafico are expected to operate as full-backs, while Nicolas Otamendi and Leonardo Balerdi form the central partnership. Their collective experience and balance between aggression and composure will provide a strong foundation against a deep-lying Puerto Rican attack.

The midfield trio may consist of Rodrigo De Paul, Anibal Moreno, and Alexis Mac Allister. De Paul will serve as the dynamic link between defence and attack, while Mac Allister’s composure and distribution from deep will allow Argentina to dictate tempo. Moreno’s inclusion adds energy and pressing ability, vital for maintaining control in the central third.

Up front, Scaloni could field Giuliano Simeone as the central striker, flanked by Nicolas Gonzalez on the left and Jose Manuel Lopez on the right. Gonzalez’s pace and dribbling will be instrumental in stretching the Puerto Rican defence, while Lopez’s creativity and link-up play will provide variety in attack. Simeone’s presence up top brings a direct threat, pressing from the front and capitalizing on aerial opportunities inside the box.

This blend of experience and experimentation should allow Argentina to dominate possession, apply relentless pressure, and test different tactical combinations ahead of next year’s major tournaments.

Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Martinez; Montiel, Otamendi, Balerdi, Tagliafico; De Paul, Moreno, Mac Allister; Gonzalez, Simeone, Lopez

Key Stats

• This will be the first official encounter between Puerto Rico and Argentina at any level. The fixture represents a historic occasion for Puerto Rico, as they face a reigning world champion side for the first time in their footballing history.

• The two nations are separated by 152 positions in the FIFA World Rankings,  Argentina sit 3rd globally, while Puerto Rico are ranked 155th. This is one of the largest ranking gaps in any international fixture taking place this year.

• Argentina have won seven of their last ten matches across all competitions (W7 D1 L2), keeping six clean sheets during that run. They have also conceded just four goals in their last nine games, showcasing their defensive solidity under Lionel Scaloni.

• Puerto Rico have played only three international fixtures in 2025, winning twice and losing once. However, both victories came against lower-ranked opposition (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Anguilla), and they have yet to score more than two goals in a single match against top-100 nations.

• Across their last five games, six different players have been on the scoresheet for Argentina, underlining the team’s attacking variety. Even in Lionel Messi’s absence, the Albiceleste have averaged 2.0 goals per match, with midfielders and defenders contributing heavily to their total.

Player to Watch

Nicolas Gonzalez

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With Lionel Messi’s participation uncertain, Nicolas Gonzalez will likely shoulder greater responsibility in Argentina’s attack against Puerto Rico. The Fiorentina winger has steadily evolved into one of Lionel Scaloni’s most reliable wide forwards, offering a balance of work rate, creativity, and direct goal threat that few in the squad can replicate.

Gonzalez is known for his explosive pace, tireless pressing, and ability to drift inside to exploit half-spaces, qualities that make him invaluable in Scaloni’s high-intensity system. Whether deployed on the left flank or as an inverted right winger, his constant movement forces defenders out of position, creating space for overlapping full-backs and midfield runners.

In recent months, Gonzalez has shown excellent form both for club and country, contributing with goals and assists in Argentina’s friendly fixtures and World Cup qualifiers. His confidence in one-on-one situations and knack for arriving in the box at the right time could make him the difference-maker against a deep-sitting Puerto Rican defence.

If Argentina dominate possession as expected, expect González to be at the heart of most attacking sequences,  stretching play wide, cutting inside onto his stronger foot, and linking fluidly with Rodrigo De Paul and Alexis Mac Allister. This match presents an ideal opportunity for him to further cement his status as one of Argentina’s key attacking options ahead of next year’s major tournaments.

Prediction

Puerto Rico 0-4 Argentina

Argentina are overwhelming favourites heading into this friendly, and even with a rotated lineup, the gulf in class between the two sides is enormous. The world champions boast too much technical quality, tactical organisation, and attacking firepower for Puerto Rico to handle over 90 minutes.

Lionel Scaloni’s men are likely to control possession from the outset, using their midfield trio to dictate tempo and patiently break down a compact Puerto Rican defence. The likes of Nicolas Gonzalez, Giuliano Simeone, and Alexis Mac Allister should find plenty of opportunities to test the goalkeeper, while Argentina’s defensive discipline, anchored by Nicolas Otamendi and Emiliano Martinez, should comfortably nullify any counter-attacking threats.

Puerto Rico may show courage and resilience early on, buoyed by the occasion of facing the reigning world champions, but the difference in fitness levels, tactical structure, and finishing efficiency will tell as the game progresses. Expect Argentina to score in both halves and record a commanding victory while keeping another clean sheet.