Tottenham Hotspur center-back Cristian Romero has been named in Argentina’s squad for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Brazil. The 26-year-old has been sidelined since sustaining a thigh injury during Spurs’ 4-3 loss to Chelsea in the Premier League on 8 December.
His club has taken a cautious approach to his recovery, as various setbacks have restricted him to only 12 league appearances this season. While Romero has recently rejoined first-team training, he has yet to feature in a competitive match. Before the international break, Tottenham have four fixtures scheduled – two in the Premier League and two in the Europa League.
Argentina leading the qualification race
The reigning World Cup champions currently sit at the top of the Conmebol World Cup qualification table, holding a five-point advantage after securing victories in eight of their 12 matches.
Their next challenge sees them visit second-placed Uruguay on 21 March (23:30 GMT), followed by a home fixture against Brazil in Buenos Aires on 26 March (00:00 GMT). Manager Lionel Scaloni has included several key players in his preliminary squad, aiming to maintain Argentina’s strong position in the qualifiers.
New faces and experienced stars
Manchester City’s 19-year-old midfielder Claudio Echeverri has earned his first call-up to Argentina’s senior squad. The youngster signed for the English club from River Plate in 2024 and has recently linked up with Pep Guardiola’s team.
Among the familiar names in the squad, Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister, and Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez have all been included.
Meanwhile, Brazil have also revealed their squad for the qualifiers, with Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli making the cut. The 23-year-old has been absent from action since Arsenal’s 2-0 EFL Cup semi-final defeat to Newcastle on 5 February. Brazil currently sit fifth in the standings, with five wins and four defeats from their 12 qualification matches.
