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A friendly match between the national teams of Argentina and Puerto Rico, originally scheduled to take place in Chicago next week, has been relocated to Florida.
The decision comes amid an ongoing immigration crackdown and related protests in Chicago.
A source familiar with the matter told the Associated Press on Wednesday, October 8, that the game — initially set for October 13 at Soldier Field — will now be played at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.
Chase Stadium is home to Lionel Messi’s club, Inter Miami.
An executive of the Argentine Football Association confirmed the relocation, saying it was directly linked to the situation in Chicago. The city has recently seen a wave of arrests, with more than 1,000 immigrants detained since the federal crackdown began last month.
The Trump administration has also pledged to deploy National Guard troops to the area as part of its broader deportation efforts and response to protests.
The friendly is part of Argentina’s preparations for the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada from June 11 to July 19 next year. Messi has been called up for both this match and another friendly against Venezuela on Friday at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
