Argentina will stage its final pre-World Cup warm-up matches at two large U.S. college football stadiums, using the high-capacity venues as last-minute preparation before the tournament begins.
The first friendly is set for June 6 at Texas A&M’s Kyle Field in College Station, where Lionel Messi and company will face Honduras. Kyle Field can hold more than 102,000 spectators, offering a stadium atmosphere similar to what the team will encounter during the World Cup.
Three days later, on June 9, Argentina will meet Iceland at Auburn University’s Jordan-Hare Stadium. That game comes just two days before the opening of the expanded 48-team World Cup, which is being co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
The Argentine Football Association released the schedule, which lines up the friendlies directly ahead of the tournament as part of the national team’s final build-up and roster tuning.
Argentina will begin its title defense on June 16 against Algeria in Kansas City, Missouri. The team’s remaining Group J matches are scheduled in Arlington, Texas, where Argentina will play Austria on June 22 and Jordan on June 27.
