Crazy in Argentina for tickets for the friendly match against Panama

BUENOS AIRES (AP) — More than a million fans of the Argentine world champion lined up online to buy the pricey tickets that went on sale Thursday for the friendly match against Panama on March 23 and sold out in two hours .

This duel will be the first match for the Albiceleste after winning the World Cup in Qatar on December 18 after beating defending champions France 4-2 on penalties.

The Argentine Football Association (AFA) has put some 63,000 tickets for the Monumental Stadium in River Plate on sale online, with the price equivalent to $57 for the cheapest and $240 for the most expensive.

The values ​​have caused controversy in the South American country by being inaccessible to the majority of the impoverished pockets of Argentines, punished by a long-standing economic crisis and annual inflation of more than 100%.

The prices were also well above the equivalent of $16 for the cheapest ticket to watch a local league game.

However, fans’ fury to celebrate winning the title with captain Lionel Messi sold out tickets within two hours.

After the site in charge of ticket marketing announced that there was no more availability, fans burst into anger and expressed it on social media.

“The virtual queue was beautiful, I had position 8,052 and when it was my turn I was already exhausted,” complained user Fernando Curbel on Twitter.

“We all know that most tickets go to celebrities, influencers, politicians and business friends…and a lot of them get resold,” said fellow user Leo Correa. , on the same social network.

The AFA indicates that it has received more than 130,000 press accreditation requests for this commitment.

The madness of seeing the “Scaloneta” – nickname of coach Lionel Scaloni’s team – also keeps the security authorities in suspense. Against the backdrop of what happened at the end of December when five million people took to the streets of Buenos Aires to receive the world champions, there are fears of a new street demonstration which would hinder the arrival of players at the stadium on the day. Match. .

It is not excluded that footballers and technical staff travel by helicopter. Another option being considered is for the Albiceleste team to meet the day before at the Monumental stadium.

The players called up for the friendly match will start arriving in Buenos Aires on Monday.

Argentina are planning another friendly match against Curacao on Tuesday, March 28 at the Madre de Ciudades stadium in the province of Santiago del Estero. Tickets are not yet on sale.