Overview

• Both October friendlies will now be played in South Florida: Venezuela at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium and Puerto Rico at Inter Miami’s Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.
• The Puerto Rico match, originally set for Monday in Chicago, has been moved to Tuesday, October 14, with kickoff time and ticket details to be confirmed.
• Organizers pointed to unrest and an ICE ‘Midway Blitz’ operation in Chicago as the driver of the venue change, with reports of an expanded federal security presence.
• Coach Lionel Scaloni said he will use the window to assess new call-ups for limited World Cup roster slots and emphasized he will not risk any player’s fitness.
• Media report Lionel Messi’s minutes will be managed, with a start against Venezuela considered unlikely, and FIFA confirmed Nicolás Otamendi must serve a one-match suspension.