LOS ANGELES.- The great soccer star, Lionel Messireappeared on Tuesday in the friendly that Argentina he beat Iceland and is eligible to participate in the World of all the excesses that will begin this Thursday in Mexicomarked by international tensions.
In 96 years of history, never three countries (Mexico, USA and Canada) had organized the World Cup.
And also for the first time, the tournament will have 48 participating countries and a total of 104 matches in almost a month and a half of competition, an XXL version that lives up to the dreams of greatness of the FIFA.
Goal and records
Since Messi was injured in a match with Inter MiamiArgentine fans have been in a state of despair for three weeks, hoping that their great captain could arrive in time to lead the reconquest operation: retain the title won four years ago in Taste.
It was only 20 minutes in the friendly against Iceland with which Argentina put an end to its preparation, but Messi responded: he scored a penalty goal and participated in the third, scored by Thiago Almada. Valetín Barco opened the scoring (3-0).
With this in his 199th international match, the star reached 117 goals for the Albiceleste, of which he is the all-time top scorer.
He also became their oldest goalscorer, at 38 years, 11 months and 18 days, and surpassed the mark of Angel Labrunawho scored his last goal in 1957, at the age of 38 years, 9 months and 8 days.
Starting June 16 against AlgeriaMessi will have the opportunity to play in his sixth World Cup, a record that he will share with two other footballers, the Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo and the Mexican Guillermo Ochoawhich will also reach that figure in North America.
An armored Aztec
By then, five days of the tournament will have been completed, which will start this Thursday at the Aztec Stadium from Mexico.
It will be the third time that the mythical venue of the Mexican capital will host a World Cup opening ceremony, which will give even more mysticism to a field that experienced unforgettable chapters with stars such as Pele, Diego Maradona either Franz Beckenbauer.
The previous days have been marked by massive protests by Mexican teachers.
Thousands of them paraded on Tuesday demanding better salaries, but they did not achieve their goal of reaching the Azteca due to the action of the police deployed around the venue.
Teachers are calling for new protests on Thursday, coinciding with the opening match between Mexico and South Africawhich could make access to the stadium even more complicated.
Geopolitical tensions
Nor are tensions reduced between USA and Iranthat cross attacks were launched on Wednesday amid the war in Middle East.
The Iranian team is focused on Tijuananorth of Mexico, but its three matches in the first phase will be played on US territory and it is not certain that the entire Iranian delegation will be able to enter the country.
“No player or coach has been denied entry. There have been some officials who have been denied entry, and for very good reasons,” the head of the club said on Tuesday. Working Group of the White House for him World Cup 2026, Andrew Giuliani.
“There are some people who claim to be trainers and they may not be,” this official warned, pointing to people in the Iranian delegation who, supposedly, have ties to the Guardians of the Revolutionthe ideological army of the country.
The first victim of this international context already has a name: the Somali Omar Abdulkadir Artan.
The best African referee was denied entry to USA last Saturday “for being suspected of having links with alleged members of terrorist organizations,” a spokesperson for the Department of State.
“I will be in the next World Cup (in 2030) and I will continue to make Somalia be proud,” Artan declared this Wednesday upon his arrival at the airport in Mogadishuwhere he was received with cheers and flags by a hundred fans.
“Despite what has happened to me, I am not unmotivated,” he said.
Somalia is one of many countries whose citizens are affected by a travel ban to the United States imposed by the US president’s administration. Donald Trump.
Infantino’s explanations
On the eve of the inauguration, the president of FIFA, Gianni Infantinohas a press appearance scheduled this Wednesday in Mexico.
In it he will have to face these issues that are overshadowing the preparation of the tournament and other controversies that have arisen in recent weeks, such as the very high price of tickets to watch the games in the stadiums.
