Argentina fans packed Klyde Warren Park in downtown Dallas on Sunday for a pre-match rally ahead of Monday’s World Cup showdown against Austria at Dallas Stadium in Arlington.
Rally Draws Big Crowd
The rally drew a large crowd hours before its scheduled start, prompting organizers to move the event from 5 p.m. to 3 p.m. Fans continued arriving throughout the afternoon as the park filled with Argentina jerseys, flags, chants, and music.
The celebration came one day before Lionel Messi and defending champion Argentina were scheduled to take the field in North Texas, where Messi is chasing World Cup history.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, Messi tied Miroslav Klose’s all-time men’s World Cup scoring record of 16 goals after scoring a hat trick in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Algeria in Kansas City. One more goal against Austria would give Messi the record outright.
Fans Without Tickets Still Show Up
Many supporters at Sunday’s rally said they did not have tickets to Monday’s match but still wanted to be part of the moment.
Resale listings reviewed early Monday showed available seats starting around $2,147, with some premium listings topping $4,000.
“We just love the Argentina feel. We just love the crowd, the people, everything,” Anthony Avila, an Argentina fan who traveled from Houston, told FOX 4.
Fans traveled from across Texas and beyond for the rally, including supporters from Houston, Fort Worth, and Israel.
Hector Andino, a Fort Worth resident, said he tried to get tickets after learning Argentina would play in North Texas, but seats sold out quickly and resale prices were too expensive.
Asked whether anything would stop him from coming, Andino replied, “That’s right. Nothing is going to stop us from having a good time and cheering our country on.”
Messi Match Comes Monday
The rally’s end time was not immediately clear. One fan said supporters planned to stay at the park until they had to leave.
Argentina is scheduled to face Austria at noon Monday at Dallas Stadium. The match gives North Texas another high-profile World Cup moment as international teams and fans continue moving through the region.
