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A friendly soccer match between Argentina and Puerto Rico was moved from Chicago to Fort Lauderdale amid an immigration crackdown underway in the city.
The game, which was supposed to take place on October 13 at Chicago’s iconic 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 play in the match.
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Lionel Messi of Argentina is challenged by Eduard Bello and Tomás Rincón of Venezuela during the South American qualifying match for the 2026 FIFA World Cup between Argentina and Venezuela at the Estadio Más Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti on September 4, 2025 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. (Marcos Brindici/Getty Images)
“Yes, confirming 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 low ticket sales.”
While Serra says ticket sales were low, an Argentine Soccer Association executive said unrest in Chicago prompted the relocation.
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Argentina will also face Venezuela in another friendly this Friday at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, which will allow the team to remain at home the following week.
A Pentagon official said 200 Texas National Guard soldiers were mobilized for an initial 60-day period. They arrived in Illinois on Tuesday to protect federal personnel and property 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 American qualifying match between Ecuador and Argentina at the Estadio Monumental Isidro Romero Carbo on September 9, 2025 in Guayaquil, Ecuador. (Franklin Jácome/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump said on Truth Social on Wednesday that Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Gov. 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 representatives who control his power. What else is left on the path to full-blown authoritarianism?” Pritzker said in reaction to Trump on Wednesday. “We all need to stand up and speak.”
Johnson also posted on X: “This is not the first time Trump has tried to wrongfully arrest a black man. I’m not going anywhere.”
National Guard troops arrived “in support of the Federal Protection Mission to protect federal functions, personnel and property,” according to a Pentagon statement.
Lionel Messi of Argentina watches during a Sudamericana 2026 qualifying match at the Estadio Mas Monumental Antonio V Liberti in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on September 4, 2025. (Juan Manuel Báez/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem said last Saturday that additional special operations personnel would be deployed to Illinois after 10 cars rammed and cornered federal agents. There have been about a dozen people arrested near an ICE facility in Broadview, where anti-immigration crowds have been gathering.
