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Puerto Rico Challenges World Champs Argentina in Surprise Friendly
14 Oct
Summary
- Puerto Rico's first-ever match against Argentina
- Argentina using friendly to test new players for 2026 World Cup
- Messi returns to Argentina squad after scoring for Inter Miami
On Tuesday, October 17th, 2025, Puerto Rico will take on reigning world champions Argentina in an international friendly match at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale. This will mark the first-ever meeting between the two national teams.
Argentina, who have already secured their place at the 2026 World Cup, are using this match as part of their preparations for the upcoming tournament. Coach Lionel Scaloni has indicated he plans to experiment with new players and rotate the squad heavily. In a boost for the team, star player Lionel Messi has returned to the Argentina squad after scoring for his club, Inter Miami, over the weekend. However, Scaloni has emphasized he will "not take any risks" with Messi or other key players.
For Puerto Rico, this friendly represents an opportunity to test themselves against the world's best. The team, led by manager Charlie Trout, failed to progress from the second round of CONCACAF qualifying for the 2026 World Cup earlier this year. Despite a positive result in their final match, Puerto Rico finished third in their group behind Suriname and El Salvador. They will be eager to use this high-profile clash to regain some momentum and prove their worth on the international stage.
