Messi, World Cup Champs Draw Over 1 Million Fans to Ticket Site

Messi’s winning team to play friendly against Panama March 23
1.3 million fans rush ticket site as scalpers tried to profit

Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring a penalty during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Final on on Dec. 18, 2022.Photographer: Matthias Hangst/Getty Images

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By Scott Squires

March 16, 2023 at 8:51 PM UTC

Over 1 million Argentines flooded a ticket sale website Thursday for a chance see Lionel Messi and his World Cup winning national team play for the first time on home soil since taking the title in December.

Tickets to a friendly soccer match between Argentina and Panama’s national teams sold out in less than two and a half hours as soccer-crazed Argentines snapped up tickets to see their team play in Buenos Aires on March 23 at a stadium with capacity for more than 80,000 fans.