Argentina are ready for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and the Albiceleste are using the final international match window before the showcase event for some simple fine-tuning. The first sparring partner comes in the form of Honduras on Friday night.
Lionel Messi will be in action against Los Catrachos at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami in the third matchup between the nations.
On paper, this shapes up as a mismatch. Argentina are ranked No. 3 in the world with a star-studded lineup on a 33-match unbeaten run dating to 2019. Honduras are ranked No. 80 and are in the process starting fresh after finishing last in North American World Cup qualifying.
Argentina will close out its September with a match against Jamaica at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J., while Honduras will meet Guatemala on Tuesday in Houston.
Sporting News is following the Argentina vs. Honduras match live and providing live score updates and commentary.
MORE: Argentina’s schedule and opponents in World Cup Group C
Argentina vs. Honduras live score
| 1H | 2H | Final | |
| Argentina | 1 | — | — |
| Honduras | 0 | — | — |
Goals:
ARG — Lautaro Martinez (Alejandro Papu Gomez) — 16th min.
Argentina vs. Honduras live updates, highlights from Miami friendly
21st min.: Messi shot on goal. It’s Messi’s turn to have a crack and Luis Lopez goes down low to stop his hard shot. Argentina are looking sharp.
16th min.: Goal Argentina! Papu Gomez makes a run in behind on the left and Messi find him, and the Sevilla man touches the ball toward the penalty spot where Lautaro Martinez touches it home.
¡GOOL DE ARGENTINA!
Messi comienza la jugada y Lautaro Martínez pone el 1-0 para la Albiceleste
🍿 No te pierdas el 🇦🇷 Argentina vs. Honduras 🇭🇳 EN VIVO por beIN SPORTS XTRA Ñ.
🔗: https://t.co/fJV1gI8QT9 pic.twitter.com/Q2wOkB7x8f
— beIN SPORTS Español (@ESbeINSPORTS) September 24, 2022
13th min.: Interesting to see Honduras midfielder Castellanos essentially following Lionel Messi all over the field. He’s listed as a midfielder but he’s Messi’s shadow in this game.
8th min.: Shot Argentina. It’s Rodrigo De Paul firing from distance and it misses wide right. But the Albiceleste have Honduras pinned in their own half, knocking the ball from side to side.
You’d imagine this is just the type of match Argentina can expect against Saudi Arabia in Group C at the World Cup.
3rd min.: Argentina chance! Papu Gomez steals the ball as Honduras try to play out of the back. He fires from the top of the box and nips the top of the bar.
1st min.: Argentina kick us off in their dark kits. Honduras in white.
— All About Argentina 🛎🇦🇷 (@AlbicelesteTalk) September 24, 2022
#LaH 🇭🇳 nuestra amada selección. 🇭🇳💙💙#VamosHonduras #LaHesEterna pic.twitter.com/1Hs25ZfZEY
— Selección Nacional de Honduras (@FenafuthOrg) September 24, 2022
5 mins from kickoff: Teams are lined up and ready for the anthems. “Argentina” chants emerge from the crowd, but it’s La “H” that goes first.
Si no se te pone la piel de gallina con esto… pic.twitter.com/xJBlchRUJ1
— Bolavip Argentina (@BolavipAr) September 24, 2022
The Argentina national team walking onto the pitch for the game. They are wearing the purple alternate kit. 🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/X3D8qVBWh1
— Mundo Albiceleste 🇦🇷 (@MundoAlbicelest) September 23, 2022
15 mins from kickoff: It’s pretty clear who is the home team at Hard Rock Stadium.
Así sale la Scaloneta. La ilusión más intacta que nunca🥺 pic.twitter.com/p3mJyAJtW0
— Anto Panetta (@anntopanetta) September 23, 2022
60 mins from kickoff: There’s 35-year-old Lionel Messi starting another game for Argentina. There is no stopping him from continuing this magical unbeaten run into the 2022 World Cup.
ARGENTINA CONFIRMADA VS. HONDURAS 🙌🇦🇷
Estos son los 11 elegidos por Lionel Scaloni
▶️ ¿Qué te parece el equipo? pic.twitter.com/W9PDr4zVQ5
— TNT Sports Argentina (@TNTSportsAR) September 23, 2022
Argentina vs. Honduras lineups
There will be two new faces in the 4-3-3 that manager Lionel Scaloni typically employs. Geronimo Rulli will get a chance at goalkeeper, while Papu Gomez will play on the wing in lieu of veteran Angel Di Maria.
Nicolas Otamendi, Joaquin Correa, Marcos Acuna, and Paulo Dybala were left off the matchday roster and presumably will see time on Tuesday in New Jersey. Also, Tottenham center-back Cristian Romero only just received his visa to travel to the USA and is on his way to join the team in advance of the match against Jamaica.
Argentina starting lineup (4-3-3, right to left): 12-Geronimo Rulli (GK) — 21-Nahuel Molina, 6-German Pezzella, 2-Lisandro Martinez, 3-Nicolas Tagliafico — 7-Rodrigo De Paul, 5-Leandro Paredes, 20-Giovani Lo Celso — 10-Lionel Messi (capt.), 22-Lautaro Martinez, 17-Alejandro ‘Papu Gomez,
Argentina subs (12): 23-Emiliano ‘Dibu’ Martinez (GK), 1-Franco Armani (GK), 4- Gonzalo Montiel, 13-Nehuen Perez, 19-Facundo Medina, 18-Guido Rodriguez, 14-Enzo Fernandez, 15-Alexis Mac Allister, 8-Thiago Almada, 11-Angel Di Maria, 9-Julian Alvarez, 16-Angel Correa
Honduras manager Diego Vazquez summoned 23 players, including Rigoberto Rivas and Andy Najar, who haven’t been called up since September 2021. Absent from the list are big names like Alberth Elis, Antony “Choco” Lozano and Edwin Rodríguez. The first two are suffering from injury, while Rodriguez only recently signed with Aris in Greece and is taking time to settle in.
This is the first senior call-up for Clayvin Zuniga and Carlos “Chapetilla” Mejia. Marcelo Pereira was a late scratch.
Honduras starting lineup (4-5-1, right to left): 22-Luis Lopez (GK) — 2-Marcelo Santos, 15-Denil Maldonado, 3-Carlos Melendez, 19-Omar Elvir — 14-Andy Najar, 5-Kervin Arriaga, 16-Hector Castellanos, 20-Deybi Flores, 11-Rigoberto Rivas — 12-Romell Quioto (capt.)
Honduras subs (12): 1-Edrick Menjivar (GK), 18-Maylor Nunez, 4-Getsel Montes, 23-Franklin Flores, 8-German Mejia, 10-Jhow Benavides, 13-Carlos Mejia, 7-Edwin Solano, 6-Joseph Rosales, 9-Clayvin Zuniga, 17-Luis Palma, 21-Bryan Rochez
MORE: Can Messi and Ronaldo face off at the World Cup in Qatar?
Argentina vs. Honduras TV channel, live stream
| USA | Canada | |
| Date | Fri, Sept. 23 | Fri, Sept. 23 |
| Time | 8 p.m. ET | 8 p.m. ET |
| TV channel | beIN Sports Xtra | beIN Sports Xtra |
| Streaming | fuboTV, beIN Connect | fuboTV, beIN Connect |
The match from Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla., will be carried in both the USA and Canada on beIN Sports Xtra, which streams on fuboTV (free trial) in both countries. There is also a stream on beIN Sports Connect.
