The AFA announced that the upcoming friendly matches of the Argentina national team against Bolivia, Burkina Faso, and Benín are classified as class A matches. This classification is a crucial step for the team in their efforts to purge the sanctions imposed after the 2026 World Cup final. The sanctions include a partial closure of 50% of the stadium, a red card for Enzo Fernández, and suspensions for Nahuel Molina, Leandro Paredes, Thiago Almada, and Roberto Ayala.
The AFA has stated that three of these sanctions will be reduced after the three matches, with Paredes' suspension reduced from 10 to 7 matches, Molina's from 7 to 4, and Ayala's from 3 to 0. The AFA is also working to reduce the sanctions against Paredes and Molina in the FIFA Appeals Committee, citing a positive precedent from 2017 when the AFA successfully reduced a four-match suspension imposed on Lionel Messi.
The Argentina national team will face Bolivia on September 30, Burkina Faso on October 3, and Benín on October 6. Lionel Messi will play his last match for the Argentina national team against Benín on October 6, along with Rodrigo De Paul and Giovani Lo Celso.