Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni hints he could leave the World Cup winners as he admits he ‘needs to think’ about his future with the national team following hectic 1-0 win against Brazil

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After a hugely emotional win vs. Brazil that followed fan violence with police, Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni admitted he was pondering his future with the national team.

‘I need to think a lot about what I will do,’ Scaloni said after Argentina’s 1-0 win in a World Cup qualifying match in Rio de Janeiro. ‘I need this time to think.’

Scaloni said he’d give it some thought before talking to Argentina’s soccer federation president Claudio Tapia and the players ‘because this national team needs a coach that has every possible energy, and that feels well.’

The Maracana Stadium result was Brazil’s first ever home defeat in a World Cup qualifying match.

‘It is not a goodbye, it is not something else. But I need to think because the bar is set really high and it is tough to go ahead,’ Scaloni said, ‘it is tough to continue winning.’

Argentina’s coach Lionel Scaloni has hinted he could depart the national team

Lionel Messi led the Argentina players off the field with kickoff delayed due to violence

Rival supporters began fighting with one another before clashing with Brazilian police

He did not respond to other questions after making his comments.

The 45-year-old Scaloni, who had his contract extended to the 2026 World Cup after his triumph last year in Qatar, replaced Jorge Sampaoli as coach after Argentina lost to France in the round of 16 at the 2018 World Cup.

Before he attended the news conference Tuesday, Scaloni was seen giving emotional hugs and kisses to other members of the Argentina staff. It was the team’s last match of 2023.

Argentina leads the 10-team South American qualifying competition with 15 points from six matches, followed by Uruguay on 13 and Colombia on 12. 

Brazil could end the year in sixth position, with seven points.

The 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada will include 48 teams, meaning direct entry for the top six teams from South America.

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