For di first time ever, international soccer don reach Auburn. On June 9, Jordan-Hare Stadium go host friendly match wey Argentina go play against Iceland as Argentina dey prepare for dis summer World Cup, di university announce am on Thursday.
Na high-profile match because Argentina dey led by global superstar and soccer legend Lionel Messi. Even though Messi no don publicly confirm whether him go play for 2026 World Cup, him no don step away from national team yet and him play for Argentina during di most recent international break.
“To get di reigning FIFA World Cup champions wey choose Auburn as site for dia last match before dem defend dia title represent tremendous achievement and incredible opportunity for Auburn Athletics and Auburn University,” Auburn athletic director John Cohen talk for release. “Dis exhibition between Argentina and Iceland go bring worldwide attention and exposure to Auburn and our community.”
Argentina na di defending World Cup champion and dem dey currently ranked No. 1 for FIFA World Rankings. Together with Messi, di team get high-profile players like Julian Alvarez, Enzo Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister and others.
Argentina go begin World Cup play exactly one week later when dem face Algeria on June 16 for Kansas City.
Iceland dey ranked 75th for FIFA World Rankings and dem no qualify for 2026 World Cup. Di game schedule to kick off 7:30 p.m. June 9 and na part of The Road to 26, series of high-profile friendlies before World Cup.
Oda matches wey dey inside di series na Brazil versus Egypt for Cleveland, Bolivia versus Scotland for Harrison, New Jersey, and Argentina versus Honduras for College Station, Texas.
Tickets for Argentina versus Iceland for Auburn go start from $45 and go dey available from April 15 by 9 a.m. CT. Fans fit register for exclusive pre-sale access for RoadTo26.com.
Meanwhile, former Real Madrid star Marcelo don reveal say Lionel Messi na tougher opponent to play against pass Cristiano Ronaldo. Di Brazilian defender wey play 333 games with Ronaldo for Madrid between 2009-2018 talk say him face Messi over 30 times for various Clasicos and international fixtures.
When Brazilian legend Romario ask am dis week say: “You face Cristiano and Messi, but who na di toughest?” Marcelo answer quick quick: “Messi.” Him add say: “Messi na really formidable-like, I dey still look for him till today, damn. Man, him really formidable; Messi na really tough.”
For Lego news, Danish brick company don release eight new sets to celebrate upcoming FIFA World Cup. Three of di eight sets na dedicated directly to Lionel Messi—hero of di last World Cup wey make Argentina wipe France off di board.
Di three Messi sets na Lego Editions Lionel Messi – Soccer Highlights, Soccer Legend, and Celebration, available for different prices. Cristiano Ronaldo get only two sets to choose from, offering di same Highlights and Soccer Legend sets as Messi.
Former USMNT goalkeeper Kasey Keller don name him three favorites for 2026 FIFA World Cup, and him snub Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal and Lionel Messi’s Argentina. Di former Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham keeper tip Spain, France, and England as him three favorites for di biggest trophy for world football.
Keller talk say while Messi lead Argentina to victory for 2022 FIFA World Cup for Qatar, dem no be favorites to retain di trophy. Him insist say even though Ronaldo’s Portugal na good team, get teams wey him consider stronger.
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo reportedly fit lock horns for FIFA World Cup 2026, wey go be dia first-ever meeting for di tournament history. According to journalist Adriano del Monte, Argentina and Portugal fit face each other for quarter-final for Arrowhead Stadium for Kansas City on July 11.
For dis to happen, dem suppose finish top for dia respective groups and win dia games for Round of 32 and Round of 16. Lionel Messi’s Argentina don draw for Group J together with Austria, Algeria and Jordan. Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal don dey named for Group K with Colombia and Uzbekistan.
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