BUENOS AIRES, July 12 (Xinhua) -- Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni will keep his job until at least the 2022 World Cup, national team director Cesar Menotti said on Friday.

Scaloni said last week that he had been guaranteed the role only until December after guiding the Albiceleste to third place at the Copa America in Brazil.

"It [the extended contract] is what he deserved and there was an agreement," Menotti said in comments that were widely published by local press.

The Argentine Football Association will reportedly make the announcement official next week.

Scaloni, 41, replaced Jorge Scaloni after the 2018 World Cup in Russia, where the Albiceleste were eliminated in the last 16 by eventual champions France.

The South American zone qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will begin next March.