Argentina's Liga Profesional sets 2026 Clausura schedule and VAR upgrades

The Liga Profesional de Fútbol announced the fixture list for the 2026 Torneo Clausura, which will begin on Thursday 23 July, four days after the 2026 World Cup final. The opening match pits defending champion Belgrano against Rosario Central. The first three matchdays include fixtures such as Sarmiento vs Argentinos, Defensa y Justicia vs Aldosivi, and a full slate of games for clubs like Racing, Vélez, Huracán, and Lanús. Boca Juniors, Lanús and Tigre have their second‑round matches postponed to avoid clashes with CONMEBOL competitions.

The Argentine Football Association (AFA) also confirmed that a semi‑automatic VAR system will be introduced from the 2027 season. A pilot trial with multiple cameras and a sensor‑equipped ball is planned for later this year, in partnership with Hawk‑Eye and Genius Sports. The same announcement stated that the VAR will be used in the Copa Argentina starting from the round of 16 (octavos) of the current edition.

These measures were disclosed during meetings led by AFA president Claudio Tapia with technology partners, aiming to bring Argentine football in line with international officiating standards.