Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said the country’s football fans were like a twelfth man for the team as thousands of them landed in Miami on Thursday, on the eve of their World Cup match against Cape Verde.
The tropical city has been home to captain Lionel Messi since he joined Inter Miami in 2023 and some 30,000 other Argentinians live in southern Florida, the largest concentration in any metropolitan area in the United States.
Some estimates suggest that support for Messi and his teammates in the city will reach 60,000 by the time the round of 32 against the African outsiders gets underway on Friday and Scaloni welcomes them.
“Their support is something I love,” he said at his pre-match press conference at Miami Stadium.
«We feel their support, they strengthen us and it is not an extra pressure for us. I hope they enjoy seeing their team and hopefully we can bring them joy.»
«Our fans are our twelfth player. Our players were Argentina fans when they were little. Now they wear this shirt. I think it shows the character of the team.»
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The sky blue and white striped shirt that gives the three-time world champion the nickname ‘Albiceleste’ was ubiquitous as hundreds of Argentine fans gathered at a beachside park on Friday for a ‘Banderazo’, or pep rally.
Argentine flags and banners, some showing Messi and fellow football icon Diego Maradona holding the World Cup aloft, were hung from trees while huge chunks of beef were grilled on charcoal and driftwood barbecues.
Once an early thunderstorm cleared, the drums sounded and music played as some fans braved the seaweed-clogged ocean to sing songs in honor of their heroes.
While Scaloni was wary of the threat from Cape Verde’s underdogs, many Argentine fans were less cautious.
“Argentina will get a very good 3-0, 2-0 win, and that’s it,” Geronimo Guenen said.
«Argentina has everything it needs to win; it has a very good team. Messi is in very good form, he has been that way throughout his career and now, above all, we can compete with anyone.»
Published on July 3, 2026
