Lionel Messi’s participation in the World Cup next summer seems to still be up in the air, though it sounds as if he will at least be there to watch Argentina defend its crown if he doesn’t play.  Messi, 38, has left the door open in the past to not participating in the 2026 World Cup, but on the eve of Friday’s World Cup draw in Washington, D.C., he stopped short of confirming he would play during an interview with ESPN .  “I hope I can be there. I’ve said before that I’d love to be there,”