A friendly match between Argentina and Puerto Rico, originally scheduled for next week in Chicago, has been moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, amid the city’s immigration crackdown, sources told ESPN Argentina’s Diego Monroig.
The friendly match was scheduled to be played on October 13 at Soldier Field in Chicago, but will be played at Chase Stadium on October 14. ESPN confirmed earlier on Wednesday that negotiations to host the match at the home of Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami were underway.
An Argentine Football Federation executive told the AP the move was due to unrest in Chicago, where President Donald Trump deployed the National Guard to quell protests against an immigration crackdown.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the move had not been publicly announced.
More than 1,000 immigrants have been arrested since the crackdown began last month in the Chicago area. The Trump administration has pledged to deploy National Guard troops as part of its agenda to boost deportations.
Defending World Cup champions Argentina will face Venezuela in another friendly Friday at Hard Rock Stadium in the Miami area. Inter Miami plays its penultimate match of the MLS regular season on Saturday at Chase Stadium against Atlanta.
Messi has been called up to play both matches, which are part of Argentina’s preparations for next year’s World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19.
ESPN reporter Lizzy Becherano contributed to this story. Information from the Associated Press was also used.
