La Albiceleste are looking to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to successfully defend the trophy in North America this summer and the coach is under no illusions about how difficult the tournament will be.

Scaloni told World Soccer magazine: "Winning the trophy again, in such complicated circumstances, is difficult to promise. It would be incredible.

"I think we deserved to win the last one, but there are many cases where the trophy did not go to the team that deserves to win the tournament.

"We are going to give our all, and try to do what we did in the last World Cup, which is to fight for every ball. Ten teams are in the fight to win the World Cup, maybe more. The level of play will be very high."

Argentina will have the bulk of the players who helped them to glory in Qatar four years ago in their squad this time around and Scaloni is confident that his team will have the necessary "intensity" at the tournament.

He said: "We focus a great deal on not losing our intensity. True, more than three years have gone by since the last World Cup, and time moves forward for everyone.

"Players who have been in the squad for a long time have to keep up their levels. And any new players have to be at that level or improve the team."

This summer's tournament is set to be the final World Cup for the legendary Lionel Messi and Scaloni is hoping that the Inter Miami star "enjoys the experience".

The manager – who also led Argentina to Copa America glory in 2021 and 2024 – said: "Messi has won the World Cup, so the important thing is that he comes to the tournament and enjoys it.

"I don't like saying never, but in theory this is his last World Cup. We know he is competitive but, more than anything, we want him to enjoy the experience."