Argentina’s defending World Cup champions have released their preliminary 55-man squad for the 2026 tournament, and one of the biggest surprises is the omission of Paulo Dybala. The Roma forward, a key member of the squad that lifted the trophy in Qatar, has been left off the provisional list, effectively ruling him out of the World Cup.
Dybala’s absence comes as a shock to many, given his contributions in the previous campaign. While no official reason has been given, injury concerns and a lack of consistent playing time at club level may have contributed to the decision. The 30-year-old had been battling fitness issues throughout the season.
In a bittersweet twist, the preliminary squad includes the son of a legendary Argentine player, who is poised to make his World Cup debut. The young talent has been making waves in domestic football and now gets the chance to follow in his father’s footsteps on the global stage.
Argentina, aiming for back-to-back World Cup titles, will finalize their 26-man roster ahead of the tournament. The exclusion of Dybala opens the door for other attacking options, but his experience and creativity will be sorely missed.
