The 37-year-old Messi was not included in the 28-man squad following an ankle injury sustained during last month's Copa America final in the United States.
First up on Wednesday will be Uzbekistan vs Spain. This match will be broadcast live on Ariana Television from 5.30pm Kabul time.
Despite the city's efforts to clean up the long-polluted river, the water has tested unsafe for humans in recent weeks, but cleaner on other days.