dpa
Buenos Aires
Superstar Lionel Messi fired a hat-trick for Argentina as the two-time World Cup champions started preparations for the tournament next month with a 4-0 rout of Haiti late Tuesday.
Fellow South Americans Peru also tasted 2-0 victory over a weakened Scotland side but World Cup debutantes Panama were held to a goalless draw by Northern Ireland.
Jorge Sampaoli's side proved way too strong for~Haiti in Buenos Aires with Messi opening the scoring from the spot in the first half and adding two more after the break. He then set up Sergio Aguero for the final strike.
Barcelona forward Messi is yet to win an international title with Argentina and begins his latest attempt against newcomers Iceland on June 16 in Moscow. Their other Group D opponents are Croatia and~Nigeria as Argentina seek a third triumph after 1978 and 1986.
Peru are returning to the finals for the first time in 36 years and are without captain Paolo Guerrero, who is serving a doping ban. But had little trouble dismissing Scotland in Lima.
Christian Cueva, with a penalty, and Jefferson Farfan struck either side of the interval for the win.
Further friendlies, against Saudi Arabia on Sunday and~Sweden on June 9, give Peru time to experiment before their Group C meetings with Australia, Denmark and France.
The crowd in Panama City gave their team a hero's send-off in in their last home friendly before the World Cup despite the 0-0 draw with the visiting Irish, who missed out on a place in Russia following a play-off defeat to Switzerland.
Edgar Joel Barcenas hitting the bar in the first half was the closest either side came to a goal.
The minnows Panama reached the finals for the first time by finishing third in North, Central American and Caribbean (CONCACAF) qualifying. They take on the might of Belgium and England, along with Tunisia, in Group G after a final warm-up against~Norway on June 6.