The Argentine men’s national football team is set to take on Cape Verde on Friday, aiming to reach the World Cup 2026 round of 16. The match is set to be played at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m. Argentina time.
After a stellar group stage that saw the Albiceleste storm to the group top spot with three wins, eight goals scored and just one conceded, head coach Lionel Scaloni’s team goes into the knockout stage in good spirits.
“We’re feeling positive after winning the first three games, mainly because we’ve been able to have everyone play,” Scaloni said in his press conference after Argentina beat Jordan 3-1.
Scaloni added he’d “be lying” if he said that Cape Verde isn’t a good team that will give Argentina a tough time.
“In this World Cup, we’ve seen that you have to be careful,” he added. “They’re a good team that can play fast and has some good players. Some people may underestimate them, but I can assure you they’re a good team.”
The match will be a historic one for Scaloni, as he’s set to take charge of his 100th game as Argentina head coach. It will leave him just 24 behind the all-time record holder, Guillermo Stabile, who coached the Albiceleste between 1940 and 1960 and won six Copa Americas.
Leading the charge against Cape Verde will undoubtedly be team star and captain Lionel Messi. The Rosario player scored six of Argentina’s eight strikes, and currently leads the tournament’s goal-scoring table. He’s also become the World Cup’s all-time goal-scoring record holder.
The team is likely to feature many of Argentina’s usual starters, like Emiliano Dibu Martínez in goal, the trio of Rodrigo de Paul, Enzo Fernández, and Alexis MacAllister in the center, and Lautaro Martínez up front.
The only players in doubt are Facundo Medina, who could lose the spot at left back he’s enjoyed for most of the tournament against usual starter Nicolás Tagliafico and Cristian Cuti Romero, who suffered a setback against Austria from the knee injury he was carrying.
Argentine fans storm Miami
Meanwhile, Argentine fans have stormed the host city in the build-up to the match.
Improvised gatherings are taking place across the city, with the big pre-game rally — held the day before each match — scheduled for after midday at 85th St. and Collins.
However, not everyone may have the chance to witness the game. Concerns over ticket prices and the lack of available tickets are growing.
Argentine Football Association president Claudio Chiqui Tapia recently admitted that some 50,000 people have traveled to Miami without tickets for the match and that he’s in talks with FIFA to secure any remaining tickets.
“We understand this is what the national team inspires, so we’re trying to help as much as we can, but we simply can’t fit everyone,” he said during a tribute event for the 40th anniversary of Mexico ’86.
The last few remaining tickets are currently available for over US$4,000, while the official FIFA resale and interchange site lists them at US$ 2,500.
