Buenos Aires, Dec 23 (NA) -- Bernardo Romeo will leave his position as general coordinator of the Argentine Football Association's (AFA) youth teams after six years in the role, just six months before the 2026 World Cup. According to the Argentine News Agency, the former San Lorenzo striker will conclude his duties next week, and his departure will occur before the start of the 2026 World Cup, to be held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The departure comes at a critical time for the Argentine national team cycle, which has already qualified for the next World Cup and has a solidified project following its triumph in Qatar 2022. Although Romeo's position was not directly linked to the daily operations of the senior team, his role was strategic within the long-term structure of Argentine football. Romeo assumed the coordinator role in January 2020 and became a key figure in the reorganization of the youth area, with the U-15, U-17, U-20, and U-23 categories falling under his purview. He also served as a permanent link to the senior national team's coaching staff, led by Lionel Scaloni. His task was to unify work criteria, methodology, and values across all national divisions. One of the main milestones of his management was the consolidation of the Scouting Department, which he promoted alongside Juan Tassi in Europe. This allowed for expanding the radar of Argentine footballers abroad and adding players with dual nationality who are now part of the national teams project, such as Alejandro Garnacho and Nico Paz. Romeo himself had explained the operation of this system, based on permanent monitoring, weekly reports, and a shared platform with the coaching staff. In addition to talent identification, Romeo was in charge of general planning, logistical coordination, tour organization, supervision of medical and infrastructure areas, and the daily articulation between the different teams. His stated objective was always to facilitate the path for young players to reach the senior national team within a unified working framework. The departure is due to a personal decision and the opportunity to continue his professional career abroad, where he would take on a similar role in a club or sports structure, with versions linking him to football in the United States. The AFA has not yet officially confirmed his departure or defined who will fill the vacant position, and for now, there are no confirmed candidates.
