

In a thrilling display of soccer prowess, Lionel Messi and the Argentine national team captivated a crowd of over 88,000 fans at Auburn University's Jordan-Hare Stadium. The pre-World Cup friendly against Iceland saw Argentina soar to a commanding 3-0 victory, with Messi stepping onto the field as a second-half substitute and electrifying the atmosphere with a goal from a penalty kick. This match marked the team's second engagement in a week at a Southeastern Conference stadium, following their 2-0 triumph over Honduras at Texas A&M. Messi, absent from the Aggieland game, delighted fans with his post-match jersey exchange with A&M quarterback Marcel Reed. As Argentina gears up for the World Cup, they will soon head to Kansas City to face Algeria on June 16, followed by matches against Austria in Dallas on June 22 and newcomer Jordan on June 27. Celebrating soccer on a global scale, the 2026 FIFA World Cup will stretch from June 11 to July 19, with the highly anticipated final taking place at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford. Soccer enthusiasts can catch all 104 matches live on FOX and FS1, with streams available on the FOX One and FOX Sports apps, ensuring fans don't miss a moment of the action.