Take a look at the scene as Argentina’s fans take over the World Cup in Miami
By Matias Ocner ,
Al Diaz and
Douglas Hanks
Argentina fans certainly owned the pre-game festivities, with the white-and-sky-blue jerseys dominating the parking lots, concession booths and precious corners of shade outside Hard Rock Stadium on Friday.
The feels-like temperature hit 103 degrees shortly before 5 p.m. And while rain threatened, fans never got a break from the heat. That didn’t seem to dent the energy, with spontaneous Argentinian futbol songs breaking out among scrums of fans.
Beer, water and soda appeared to be enjoying brisk sales. No category of paraphernalia was more popular than Lionel Messi gear-- from jerseys, to jumbo foam Messi heads to at least one cape depicting the Argentinian player as a saint.
Miami Herald photographers captured the scene. Take a look.
Argentina fan Mariano Jalif, center, dances and sings as he arrives to the Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Stadium) for the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 soccer match against Cape Verde on Friday, July 3, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
Argentina fan Emanuel Huenulef, center, kicks a soccer ball as he arrives to the Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Stadium) for the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 soccer match against Cape Verde on Friday, July 3, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
Argentina fan Leandro Yusep, center, dances and sings as he arrives to the Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Stadium) for the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 soccer match against Cape Verde on Friday, July 3, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
Argentina fans cheer as they arrive to the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 soccer match against Cape Verde at Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Stadium) on Friday, July 3, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
Argentina fan Naomi Urban reacts as she arrives to the Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Stadium) for the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 soccer match against Cape Verde on Friday, July 3, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
Argentina fans Daniel Buttazzoni, left, and his son, Santino Buttazzoni, dress as nuns as they arrive to the Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Stadium) for the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 soccer match against Cape Verde on Friday, July 3, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
Argentina forward Lionel Messi (10) and midfielder Rodrigo de Paul (7) arrive to Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Stadium) ahead of their team's FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 soccer match against Cape Verdeon Friday, July 3, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez (23) arrives to Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Stadium) ahead of his team's FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 soccer match against Cape Verdeon Friday, July 3, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
Argentina forward Julián Álvarez (9) arrives to Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Stadium) ahead of his team's FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 soccer match against Cape Verdeon Friday, July 3, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
Cape Verde fans Beatriz Pardo and Marc De Boer kiss before the start of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 soccer match between Argentina and Cape Verde at Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Stadium) on Friday, July 3, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Photography by AL DIAZ adiaz@miamiherald.com
Maria Fernandez kisses her world cup necklace charm before the start of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 soccer match between Argentina and Cape Verde at Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Stadium) on Friday, July 3, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Photography by AL DIAZ adiaz@miamiherald.com
Team Argentina fan Gustavo Dos Reys, reacts in front of the soccer ball before the start of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 soccer match between Argentina and Cape Verde at Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Stadium) on Friday, July 3, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Photography by AL DIAZ adiaz@miamiherald.com
Cape Verde fan Darcy Neves joins performers dancing in the crowd before the start of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 soccer match between Argentina and Cape Verde at Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Stadium) on Friday, July 3, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Photography by AL DIAZ adiaz@miamiherald.com
Felix Olivero didn’t let a long walk on crutches keep him from seeing his home country play at Hard Rock Stadium on Friday, July 3, 2026. Douglas Hanks
From left to right: Ezra García, Mariano Matti, Gonzalo Matti, Pedro Más, and Alejo Matti pause with the flag of Argentina outside Hard Rock Stadium on Friday, July 2, 2026. Douglas Hanks
This story was originally published July 3, 2026 at 6:24 PM.
Miami Herald sportswriter Michelle Kaufman has covered 14 Olympics, six World Cups, Wimbledon, U.S. Open, NCAA Basketball Tournaments, NBA Playoffs, Super Bowls and has been the soccer writer and University of Miami basketball beat writer for 25 years. She was born in Frederick, Md., and grew up in Miami.
Sports Pass is your ticket to Miami sports
#ReadLocal
Get in-depth, sideline coverage of Miami area sports - only $1 a month
.jpg "image0 (2).jpg")
