SOCCER
Argentina’s Hurricane Milton odyssey: All plans in doubt
Coach Scaloni says security of the players is the most important thing, as Hurricane Milton bears down on Florida.
There’s growing concern within the Argentina national soccer team camp. The squad is currently in Miami, preparing for two World Cup qualifying matches against Venezuela and Bolivia. However, in just a few hours, they’re set to board a flight to Venezuela while under the looming threat of Hurricane Milton.
The team has a charter flight scheduled for Wednesday, departing from Miami to Venezuela. But with hurricane-force winds expected to reach up to 155 mph near Tampa, there’s a possibility that airports in the region could shut down. If that happens, the team wouldn’t make it to Maturín, Venezuela, 24 hours before the match, as FIFA regulations require.
“The game is important, but safety is far more important”
Lionel Scaloni addressed the issue carefully, emphasizing that safety is paramount. “We’re concerned and waiting to see if we can leave. They say we might be able to fly out in the afternoon, but we’re not certain yet. We had asked to travel today (Tuesday), but the flight was denied. Now we’ll have to see if the weather allows us to leave.”
“We’re staying calm, and the training facilities are perfect, but the situation is constantly on our minds. When it comes to safety, it’s delicate. The match is important, but safety is even more important. So when you’re dealing with winds and hurricanes, whether they pass nearby or far away, or if the airport shuts down, it’s hard not to worry,” Scaloni admitted.
Venezuela and Argentina are scheduled to face off on Thursday at 11:00 p.m. at the Estadio Monumental. The Argentine Football Association (AFA) and CONMEBOL are in direct communication with FIFA in case the team is forced to delay their departure. AFA is already negotiating for an exception, proposing that the game be moved to Friday.
A complicated journey for Argentina as Milton nears Florida
Traveling to Venezuela is already a challenge, as there’s no direct flight from either the U.S. or Argentina. For some time now, the Argentine Federation has made Miami the central meeting point for the international squad, a city where Lionel Messi and a number of other players reside. “It’s not going to be easy getting there because you can’t fly directly to Maturín. It’s impossible to fly directly to Venezuela from the U.S. That’s something beyond our control. We’ve just had bad luck,” Scaloni lamented. No matter what happens, the plane will have to make a stop in Colombia.
Due to the diplomatic conflict between the two countries, the team’s flight will depart from Miami International Airport, make a stop in Barranquilla, Colombia, and then land in Maturín five hours later. Before that, the team is scheduled to train in Miami in the morning.
Amid all this uncertainty, technical details have taken a backseat: “You can focus during training, but afterward, it’s hard to ignore what’s happening. I think it’s only natural to be concerned about the safety of the people around you and yourself. People are taking shelter, some are even leaving their homes… Experiencing this up close isn’t pleasant. It’s new and different for us, something we’re not used to, so we’re on high alert,” the coach concluded.
Original article by Amalia Fra. Translated using AI and edited by David Nelson.