Argentine Football Association President Tapia expressed his hope that Scaloni would continue coaching, referring to it as his A, B, C plan.
“I really like Scaloni. He’s been through a tough time here,” Tapia said. He also said that he has been in close communication with Scaloni and believes he can persuade him to stay: “We all want him to stay. The negotiations between the two sides have been going on for quite some time.”
Tapia also revealed that he had not considered any other alternatives: "My plans A, B, and C are all Scaloni."
Furthermore, Tapia emphasized that this Argentine team "has generated a strong sense of identity among the people," adding, "No national team has ever brought so much joy to the people as this one." He further stated, "Perhaps the best thing I did was to choose the right national team coach and insist on keeping him in his position."
Scaloni took over the team as interim manager in 2018 (he had previously been a member of Sampaoli's coaching staff), and after becoming the permanent manager, he wrote a golden chapter in Argentine football: with Messi as the flag bearer, the team successively won the 2022 Qatar World Cup, two Copa America titles (2021 Brazil and 2024 USA), and the 2022 European and American Cup title against Italy.
At the 2026 World Cup, Argentina came close to glory again, but ultimately lost 0-1 to Spain in extra time in the final, finishing as runners-up. At the press conference following that defeat, Scaloni broke down in tears, foreshadowing his possible departure: "I don't know if I can achieve anything greater than this."
Scaloni will continue coaching the upcoming matches. He is expected to meet with Tapia during the upcoming training camp to address his future. The Argentine Football Association president has made his stance clear: he is not considering other options and only hopes to persuade Scaloni to stay.
