Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni has sounded a note of caution ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, insisting there is no single dominant force in world football heading into the tournament.

Scaloni pointed to the difficulties that top-ranked nations have encountered against lower-ranked opposition, suggesting the competitive landscape at this World Cup will be unusually level.

The warning from the Argentina coach reflects a broader reality that has been emerging in international football: established powers are no longer guaranteed comfortable victories over supposedly weaker sides.

For Argentina, the reigning world champions, Scaloni's assessment underlines a message of vigilance — no opponent should be underestimated when the tournament gets under way.

The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will feature an expanded field of 48 nations, which further increases the potential for upsets and makes predicting a dominant favourite more difficult than ever.

Scaloni's words will resonate across the global footballing community, and particularly among African nations preparing their squads for what could be a historic tournament for the continent.