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Messi, Inter Miami teammates arrive in KC ready for frigid Champions Cup match Wednesday
Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami teammates arrived in Kansas City on Wednesday all bundled up in ski hats and parkas and were set to take on Sporting KC at 8 p.m. in their Concacaf Champions Cup opener at Children's Mercy Park.
Messi was seen coming down the airplane steps fully covered, carrying a thermos, presumably filled with yerba mate. He and his teammates will need all the warm beverages they can get. The temperature in Kansas City is forecast to be 3 degrees at kickoff, with a windchill of minus minus-15.
An Extreme Cold Watch and a snowstorm Tuesday led to the postponement of the game.
Concacaf announced Monday afternoon that the game was rescheduled for Wednesday 'due to adverse weather conditions expected to impact the Kansas City metropolitan area in the next 24 hours, including significant snow accumulation.'
The statement added that the decision was made to prioritize player and fan safety and was made in close coordination with the two participating clubs.
Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano said on Monday that Messi is '100 percent available' to play, regardless of the weather conditions or when the game is held.
'I can assure you that Leo will play,' Mascherano said, responding to a question about whether Messi might not travel due to the winter weather.
Inter Miami will be ready, the coach said.
'If we have to play in those conditions, we will face it,' Mascherano said. 'The weather will be the same for both teams. But we know Sporting is more used to that climate, but we have to deal with that. We didn't choose it, but this is how it is.'
Miami midfielder Robert Taylor, a native of Finland, is accustomed to cold weather and snow. But he prefers not to play in those conditions.
'I don't think anyone likes those conditions, playing in snow is always a little bit different, but it's all about preparation,' Taylor said. 'When you're mentally ready for the game, it really doesn't matter what the weather is because at the end of the day, it's the same for both teams. There's no excuses. We're going to prepare the right way and I think we'll be ready.'
How to Watch: Inter Miami vs. Sporting KC kicks off at 8 p.m. on FS2 in English and TUDN in Spanish.
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