Argentina beats Honduras 2-0 in World Cup prep friendly

Argentina, the defending FIFA World Cup champion, secured a 2-0 victory over Honduras in a friendly match in College Station, Texas, on Saturday. The win served as a preparatory match ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Lautaro Martínez opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 37th minute after a foul on Nicolás Tagliafico. Argentina doubled its lead early in the second half when Martínez provided a backheel assist to Giuliano Simeone, who scored in the 54th minute. The match was dominated by Argentina, with Honduras offering little threat, especially in the second half.

Notably absent from the pitch was captain Lionel Messi, who remained on the bench as a precautionary measure while recovering from a muscle injury described in reports as either calf strain or hamstring fatigue. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, recovering from a finger injury, was also rested. In a lighthearted moment captured on video, Emiliano Martínez was seen briefly operating a television camera near the field during the match.

Coach Lionel Scaloni rotated his squad heavily for the fixture, providing playing time for various players. Argentina’s final warm-up match before the World Cup is scheduled for Tuesday...