- Chinese sport authorities pulled the plug on Argentina’s tour of the country
- The world champions are expected to turn to USA’s East Coast as a ‘Plan B’
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
Argentina will head to the United States for its next international meet-up after their tour of China was canceled amid a backlash to Lionel Messi sitting out a recent Inter Miami friendly in Hong Kong.
The world champions were initially scheduled to play games against Nigeria and Ivory Coast in China during next month’s international break, yet that is no longer the case after sport authorities pulled the plug on the proposed tour.
Messi being left on the bench for Miami against Hong Kong XI on February 4 infuriated Chinese officials after some fans had forked out more than the equivalent of $600 to watch the soccer legend in the flesh.
As a result, the Beijing Football Association subsequently announced it had ‘no plans’ for Messi or his country to play in China – forcing Argentina to find a last-minute alternative.
In light of China’s pullout, the USA has now been selected as the preferred ‘Plan B’ option for the 2022 World Cup winners.
