<p>Argentina will have a lot riding in 2024 since they are the current regional and world champions. Another major championship would put them in a better position to defend their other crown in the future.</p>



<p>With each game that <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/how-to-watch-messi-in-inter-miamis-first-2-friendlies-of-2024-20240116-WST-483715.html">Lionel Messi</a> plays, Argentina reaches new heights. That being said, the 36-year-old also adds more trophies to his already famous career.</p>



<p>Having said that, expectations have reached almost unprecedented levels. In the lead-up to the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/copa-america-tv-schedule/">Copa America</a>, each game this year carries the weight of the squad’s past trophies.</p>



<p><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/nations/argentina-national-team-tv-schedule/">Argentina</a> approaches 2024 with a lot to gain and a lot to lose. Especially, since their head coaching situation is unknown due to worries over Lionel Scaloni’s future.</p>



<h2>Two friendlies await in March when Argentina goes to China</h2>



<p>Lionel Messi will be competing in the 2024 Copa America this summer in the USA for the CONMEBOL championship. The team’s goal is to defend its title.</p>



<p>They will play their playoff qualifier to secure a spot in Group A. However, their first-round match opponent is still up in the air. Canada and Trinidad and Tobago have to face each other.</p>



<p>Argentina is also faced with the ongoing challenge of qualifying for the 2026 <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/world-cup-tv-schedule/">World Cup</a>. They now hold the top spot in the rankings, although they are facing challenges from a revitalized Uruguay and Colombia.</p>



<p>Up until this point, the Argentine FA has been silent on the subject of confirmed friendly fixtures. In March and June, Messi and his teammates will play two international friendlies to be ready for the competition.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="670" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20240117_WST_483936_Argentina-squad-1200x670_53ba1a88.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=670" alt="" class="wp-image-483964" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/01/Argentina-squad-1200x670.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/01/Argentina-squad-300x168.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/01/Argentina-squad-768x429.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/01/Argentina-squad.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



<h2>Smart idea or a profit stunt?</h2>



<p>Some news outlets have reported that in two months, Scaloni’s squad will go to China to play a European side and the China national team.</p>



<p>Two friendly matches featuring Argentina are going to take place in March. In the next FIFA international window, they will face off against China and another European team, says Gaston Edul of <a href="https://www.tycsports.com/seleccion-argentina/la-seleccion-argentina-jugara-los-dos-amistosos-de-marzo-en-china-los-posibles-rivales-id558318.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TyC Sports</a>.</p>



<p>The dates would fall inside the FIFA window, which begins on March 18 and ends on March 26. The reigning World Cup winners, per <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/josephosullivan/2024/01/17/are-argentina-putting-profit-ahead-of-copa-america-preparation/?sh=6ac4a2977d40" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Forbes</a>, have agreed to play one of the clashes in Beijing and the other in Hangzhou. The two cities are over 1,300km apart.</p>



<p>Rumor has it that the first exhibition match would pit the squad against a European side—albeit a lower-tier European squad. Hungary, the Czech Republic, Croatia, and Turkey are all potential opponents.</p>



<p>While negotiating with the Chinese, La Albiceleste was unable to secure Uruguay’s participation in one of the friendly matches. But many supporters of the nation are unhappy because the upcoming Asian games in the middle of March are just a ‘money-making stunt.’</p>



<p>A few short months from then, they will be back in the US trying to defend their Copa America crown. The supporters think that if they played tougher opponents and traveled less, they would be better prepared for the event.</p>



<p>This was Argentina’s precise strategy when they traveled to Asia last year to face Indonesia in Jakarta and Australia in China. The organization earned $6 million from the trip. Nevertheless, it is a substantial sum but pales in comparison to the $42 million they received as a prize for winning the 2022 World Cup.</p>



<p><em>PHOTOS: IMAGO</em></p>

Messi returns to China: Two friendlies for Argentina in March

Argentina and Lionel Messi will have a lot riding in 2024, which puts emphasis on the friendlies the side scheduled in China for March.

<p><a href="https:\/\/paramountplus.qflm.net/c/330866/1007330/3065" target="_new" rel="noopener nofollow"></a></p><div><figure class="image"><a href="https:\/\/paramountplus.qflm.net/c/330866/1007330/3065" target="_new" rel="noopener nofollow"></a></figure></div><p></p>
<p>Here in the United States, AFC Women’s Asian Cup games on Paramount+ begin Thursday, January 20. China PR takes on Chinese Taipei in the opening fixture from India.</p>
<p>CBS acquired the rights to broadcast Asian Football Confederation (AFC) tournaments up until 2024. This, of course, gives CBS exclusive rights to broadcast the tournament in the United States. Therefore, the agreement allows CBS to utilize its streaming service <a href="https:\/\/paramountplus.qflm.net/c/330866/1007330/3065" target="_new" rel="noopener nofollow">Paramount+</a> as the exclusive way to watch these competitions.</p>
<p>The AFC General Secretary, Dato’ Windsor John, mentioned the importance of the deal for the sport in Asia as a whole.</p>
<blockquote><p><em>“The AFC is delighted to enter into this partnership with CBS Sports, which represents another progressive step towards increasing the visibility and consumption of the AFC’s competitions beyond our Continent, and we thank them for believing in the future of Asian football.”</em></p></blockquote>
<p>Paramount+ streams <a href="https:\/\/www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_womens_asian_cup.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">each match of the competition</a> live. On-demand replays are available shortly after the conclusion of each game.</p>
<h5>The 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup</h5>
<p>India hosts the 2022 AFC Women’s Cup for the second time in the competition’s history. Traditionally, the AFC Women’s Asian Cup features eight teams. However, this year, the tournament expanded. Twelve teams split into three groups of four teams. The group winner and group runner-up advance from each group. Also, the two best third-place teams advance to the quarterfinals of the competition.</p>
<p>From that point on, it is a single-game elimination tournament culminating on February 6.</p>
<p>Historically, China PR is the most successful nation in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup. The nation has won eight times. That being said, Japan dominated in recent renditions of the tournament. The 2011 World Cup Winners won the last two AFC Women’s Asian Cups.</p>
<p>The tournament is incredibly important. First off, the tournament crowns the best Asian women’s team. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, the top five teams in the competition earn direct qualification to the <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/2020/06/25/a-tournament-of-firsts-2023-womens-world-cup-will-break-new-ground/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2023 World Cup</a>. That tournament, hosted by Australia and New Zealand, already has the two host nations as secured spots. The knockout stages of the 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup, airing on Paramount+, determine five more participants.</p>
<h3>AFC Women’s Asian Cup on Paramount+</h3>
<p>Currently, Paramount+ has a <a href="https:\/\/paramountplus.qflm.net/c/330866/1007330/3065" target="_new" rel="noopener nofollow">one-week free trial</a> of their streaming service. After the seven days are up, plans for Paramount+ begin at just $4.99 per month. They also offer an ad-free (except live TV obviously) version for $9.99 per month. <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/2020/08/11/how-to-lock-in-savings-with-annual-soccer-streaming-plans/">Annual plans</a> are also available at Paramount+ and they start at $49.99 per year. The streaming service can also now be bundled along with Showtime as well.</p>
<p>Subscribers can access Paramount+ on computers, mobile phones, tablets or connected devices like Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, LG, Samsung, and Vizio smart TVs, Playstation, Roku, and Xbox.</p>
<p>Along with the AFC Women’s Asian Cup, Paramount+ offers subscribers more than 2,000 live soccer matches per year. Other competitions that the streaming service currently holds exclusive rights to in the U.S. include: UEFA Champions League, Europa League, Europa Conference League, Italy’s Serie A, Scottish Premiership, Argentine league, Brasileirāo, NWSL, The Women’s Cup, CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers and Nations League.</p>
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The AFC Women's Asian Cup, the top tournament for international women's teams in the confederation, begins on Paramount+ this week.

ALL POSTS TAGGED "China PR"

Argentina

Messi returns to China: Two friendlies for Argentina in March

AFC

AFC Women's Asian Cup on Paramount+ starts Thursday, Jan. 20