Bizarre 'anti-Lionel Messi' rule brought in by Argentina's next opponents for World Cup qualifier

Argentina are among the South American nations in action over the next week trying to progress their qualification hopes for the 2026 World Cup, but their next opponents have brought in a bizarre rule which will impact the encounter and fans who will attend.

The current world champions - who won the tournament for the third time at Qatar 2022 when they beat France in the final - are currently top of the one single qualification group for the CONMEBOL federation.

Argentina currently have 22 points on the road to the 2026 tournament, three ahead of second placed Colombia and six in front of Uruguay and Brazil.

In the current international break, Argentina face Paraguay in Asuncion, before taking on Peru back on home soil in Buenos Aires.

Captain and record appearance maker and goal scorer Lionel Messi - who has found the back of the net 112 times in 189 caps - has been included in Lionel Scaloni's squad for the pair of fixtures.

Messi will be aiming to be part of the squad which defends their crown in around 18 months from now, with the tournament being held jointly across the USA, Canada and Mexico.

In his club career, the 37-year-old has spent the bulk of his playing days at Barcelona where he came through the youth team ranks, before heading to Paris Saint-Germain and is now with MLS side Inter Miami.

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Argentina first face Paraguay on Thursday, and ahead of the encounter at the Defensores del Chaco Stadium, the hosts have taken a bizarre step which will essentially ban supporters from showing any support to the visiting nation and any opposition players, including Messi.

Paraguay have essentially prohibited opposition fans from donning Argentina shirts or any club attire with players names and numbers on the back, including ones with Messi 10, for security reasons and also to help the host nation.

Fernando Villasboa – licensing manager of the Paraguayan FA – has told EFE: "We have already warned that in the local sectors, we will not allow access to jerseys that are not from Paraguay, or perhaps neutral ones, but not from the rival.

"This is not an issue against any player. We are very respectful of the career of all footballers. It's just that home field advantage is very important for us."

Though a peculiar and bizarre rule, it is one which Paraguay has put in place before for previous clashes against Brazil and Venezuela, and will also be there for the World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Colombia in March 2025.