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A friendly soccer match between Argentina and Puerto Rico has been moved from Chicago to Fort Lauderdale amid a crackdown on immigration in the city.
The game, which was scheduled to take place on October 13 at Chicago’s famous Soldier Field, will now take place at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale on October 14, ESPN reported.
Chase Stadium is the home of Inter Miami, the club of Argentine legend Lionel Messi, who is expected to participate in the match.
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Argentina’s Lionel Messi is challenged by Eduard Bello and Tomás Rincon of Venezuela during the 2026 FIFA World Cup South America qualifying match between Argentina and Venezuela at Estadio Más Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti on September 4, 2025 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. (Marcos Brindicci/Getty Images)
“Yes, this confirms that the Argentina vs. Puerto Rico game has been canceled in Chicago,” Chicago Park District spokesman Luca Serra confirmed to the Associated Press on Wednesday. “The promoter made the decision this morning due to poor ticket sales.”
While Serra says ticket sales have been low, an Argentine Football Federation official said unrest in Chicago led to the move.
Trump says Chicago mayor and Illinois governor ‘should be in jail for failing to protect’ ICE officers
Argentina will also face Venezuela in another friendly this Friday at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, allowing the team to remain local the following week.
A Pentagon official said 200 Texas National Guard troops had been mobilized for an initial period of 60 days. They arrived in Illinois on Tuesday to protect federal personnel and assets amid anti-immigration protests.
This comes after more than 1,000 immigrants have been arrested since the crackdown began last month in Chicago.
Franco Mastantuono of Argentina reacts during the 2026 FIFA World Cup South America qualifying match between Ecuador and Argentina at Estadio Monumental Isidro Romero Carbo on September 9, 2025 in Guayaquil, Ecuador. (Franklin Jacôme/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump said Wednesday on Truth Social that Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, both Democrats, should be jailed for failing to defend U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents amid the crackdown.
“I will not back down. Trump is now calling for the arrest of the elected officials who control his power. What else is left on the path to full-fledged authoritarianism?” Pritzker said Wednesday in reaction to Trump. “We all need to stand up and speak out.”
Johnson also posted on
The National Guard troops arrived “in support of the federal protective mission to protect federal functions, personnel and assets,” according to a Pentagon statement.
Argentina’s Lionel Messi watches a 2026 South American qualifying match at the Mas Monumental Antonio V Liberti stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, September 4, 2025. (Juan Manuel Baez/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem said Saturday that additional special operations personnel would be deployed to Illinois after federal agents were struck and surrounded by 10 cars. A dozen people were arrested near an ICE facility in Broadview, where anti-immigration crowds gathered.
