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USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Argentina vs. Chile in World Cup qualifier: How to watch Lionel Messi play Thursday
Argentina vs. Chile in World Cup qualifier: How to watch Lionel Messi play Thursday Show Caption Hide Caption lionel-messi-fifa-club-world-cup-michelob-ultra-TV-commercial Soccer superstar Lionel Messi appears in a new Michelob Ultra TV commercia for the FIFA Club World Cup. Lionel Messi is healthy and available to play with Argentina for the first time this year in a World Cup qualifying match on Thursday night. Messi and the World Cup champions will be on the road playing against Chile at Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos in Santiago, Chile. It's unclear whether Messi will start or come off the bench, Argentine national team coach Lionel Scaloni said Wednesday. Argentina has already qualified for the 2026 World Cup, and could use this match to play several young players on its roster. Several players are also suspended or won't play to rest after long seasons. Knowing it's one of the few times Messi will wear his Argentina jersey this year, expect to see him in action representing his beloved home country. Chile will host Argentina on Thursday at 9 p.m. ET (10 p.m. in Argentina). The match will be broadcast by TYC Sports Internacional USA on DirecTV, YouTube TV, Sling TV and Fubo. Fanatiz also has a pay-per-view live stream available. Here's a link to watch the match on Fubo. Messi's status as a starter or substitute will be confirmed when Argentina announces its starting lineup for the match. What did Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni say about Messi? "We haven't decided yet whether he'll start the game or not. I need to talk to him, especially because it would be good to know how he's feeling physically. We've talked about a lot of things, but not about this specifically," Scaloni said about Messi Wednesday. "We're in a position where we can try other things, and in principle, he's available to play. We'll see. He had a good game last Saturday, so this guy is ready to play. We'll decide how he is." How fit is Lionel Messi before Argentina match in Chile? Messi, 37, is coming off one of his best stretches in 2025, scoring five goals in his last three matches with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer. He was named MLS Player of the Month after seven goals and four assists in seven matches in May. He scored two goals with three assists in Inter Miami's 5-1 win against Columbus Crew last Saturday. When was the last time Messi played with Argentina? Messi last played with the national team in November: He was scoreless as Argentina lost 2-1 to Paraguay on Nov. 14, 2024, and had the assist to Lautaro Martinez in a 1-0 win over Peru on Nov. 19, 2024. Playing with Argentina before the MLS Cup playoffs last year, Messi was scoreless in a 1-1 draw against Venezuela on Oct. 11, 2024, then exploded with a hat trick and two assists in a 6-0 victory over Bolivia on Oct. 15, 2024. Messi was unable to play with Argentina in March against Uruguay and Brazil, while he was recovering from an adductor strain. Argentina beat Uruguay 1-0 on March 21, and beat Brazil 4-1 on March 25. Lionel Messi's upcoming schedule with Argentina, Inter Miami
San Francisco Chronicle
02-05-2025
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
The Whitecaps' rise has been one of the surprises of the MLS season so far
Before the first leg of the Vancouver Whitecaps' CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinal against Lionel Messi and Inter Miami, supporters stretched banners across one end of BC Place. "You allowed us to dream again,' one said. The fan sentiment expressed in the tifo has spilled over to the Major League Soccer season as the Whitecaps defy expectations. 'I don't know if I've really been a part of such a close locker room before. Everyone who has come in in the last couple of years has said the same thing, and I think that speaks volumes," top scorer Brian White said. "And I think you see that on the field, how close this group is.' While it's still early, the Whitecaps sit atop MLS with a 7-1-2 record. They've allowed just seven goals, tied for fewest in the league, while scoring 20, tied for most. White, a new Jersey native who joined Vancouver in 2021, has six total goals and was named the MLS Player of the Month for April. He scored four of those goals in a mid-month match against Austin. Across all competitions this year, the Whitecaps have lost just twice in 18 total games. 'This group of guys is amazing, and it's not just to say that, I really believe it,' said Serbian defender Ranko Veselinović, who has been with Vancouver since 2020. 'All the guys are on the same page, we work with each other, we have good relationships. That's the foundation for success and I think this year we can do special things.' The fast start stands in contrast to Vancouver's more recent history. Last season, the Whitecaps finished eighth in the standings and routed the Portland Timbers 5-0 in a wild-card game. But they fell to LAFC in the first round of the playoffs. The Whitecaps have qualified for the playoffs in three of the past five years but haven't advanced out of the first round in that span. Since the team joined the league in 2011, the furthest they've gone in the playoffs is the quarterfinals, in 2015 and 2017. Coach Vanni Sartini was fired in late November after three seasons at the helm, and Vancouver didn't name his replacement — Danish coach Jesper Sorensen — until mid-January. Adding to the offseason upheaval was the announcement the Whitecaps were for sale. Greg Kerfoot has been owner of the club since 2002, when it was part of the North American Soccer League. Steve Luczo, Jeff Mallett and former NBA star Steve Nash joined Kerfoot in 2008, and the Whitecaps became part of MLS in 2011. A new owner has not emerged, and there are concerns among the fanbase that the team could be moved. But in the meantime, the Whitecaps keep winning. Vancouver's rise has grabbed attention because of the 5-1 aggregate victory over Inter Miami that sent the Whitecaps through to the Champions Cup final at Cruz Azul on June 1. Much has been made about the star-studded Miami team's failure — but Vancouver demonstrated its newfound resurgence with its 3-1 second-leg victory on Miami's home turf. White and Pedro Vite scored goals just two minutes apart to open the second half before Sebastian Berhalter added a third in the 71st minute. Cruz Azul downed Tigres 2-1 on aggregate in the other semifinal to win a spot in the final. Should the Whitecaps defeat the Liga MX club, they would qualify for a spot in the 2029 Club World Cup and this summer's Intercontinental Cup. There's also the MLS season. The Whitecaps host Real Salt Lake on Saturday. 'The sky's the limit to what we can achieve this year,' White said. 'Hopefully, we stay healthy, stay humble, know where we come from, believe in ourselves and continue to push hard.'
Fox Sports
02-05-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
The Whitecaps' rise has been one of the surprises of the MLS season so far
Associated Press Before the first leg of the Vancouver Whitecaps' CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinal against Lionel Messi and Inter Miami, supporters stretched banners across one end of BC Place. "You allowed us to dream again,' one said. The fan sentiment expressed in the tifo has spilled over to the Major League Soccer season as the Whitecaps defy expectations. 'I don't know if I've really been a part of such a close locker room before. Everyone who has come in in the last couple of years has said the same thing, and I think that speaks volumes," top scorer Brian White said. "And I think you see that on the field, how close this group is.' While it's still early, the Whitecaps sit atop MLS with a 7-1-2 record. They've allowed just seven goals, tied for fewest in the league, while scoring 20, tied for most. White, a new Jersey native who joined Vancouver in 2021, has six total goals and was named the MLS Player of the Month for April. He scored four of those goals in a mid-month match against Austin. Across all competitions this year, the Whitecaps have lost just twice in 18 total games. 'This group of guys is amazing, and it's not just to say that, I really believe it,' said Serbian defender Ranko Veselinovic, who has been with Vancouver since 2020. 'All the guys are on the same page, we work with each other, we have good relationships. That's the foundation for success and I think this year we can do special things.' The fast start stands in contrast to Vancouver's more recent history. Last season, the Whitecaps finished eighth in the standings and routed the Portland Timbers 5-0 in a wild-card game. But they fell to LAFC in the first round of the playoffs. The Whitecaps have qualified for the playoffs in three of the past five years but haven't advanced out of the first round in that span. Since the team joined the league in 2011, the furthest they've gone in the playoffs is the quarterfinals, in 2015 and 2017. Coach Vanni Sartini was fired in late November after three seasons at the helm, and Vancouver didn't name his replacement — Danish coach Jesper Sorensen — until mid-January. Adding to the offseason upheaval was the announcement the Whitecaps were for sale. Greg Kerfoot has been owner of the club since 2002, when it was part of the North American Soccer League. Steve Luczo, Jeff Mallett and former NBA star Steve Nash joined Kerfoot in 2008, and the Whitecaps became part of MLS in 2011. A new owner has not emerged, and there are concerns among the fanbase that the team could be moved. But in the meantime, the Whitecaps keep winning. Vancouver's rise has grabbed attention because of the 5-1 aggregate victory over Inter Miami that sent the Whitecaps through to the Champions Cup final at Cruz Azul on June 1. Much has been made about the star-studded Miami team's failure — but Vancouver demonstrated its newfound resurgence with its 3-1 second-leg victory on Miami's home turf. White and Pedro Vite scored goals just two minutes apart to open the second half before Sebastian Berhalter added a third in the 71st minute. Cruz Azul downed Tigres 2-1 on aggregate in the other semifinal to win a spot in the final. Should the Whitecaps defeat the Liga MX club, they would qualify for a spot in the 2029 Club World Cup and this summer's Intercontinental Cup. 'We're dreamers, you know,' Berhalter said. 'Why not? We're a small market club. But why not? Why not win the whole thing?" There's also the MLS season. The Whitecaps host Real Salt Lake on Saturday. 'The sky's the limit to what we can achieve this year,' White said. 'Hopefully, we stay healthy, stay humble, know where we come from, believe in ourselves and continue to push hard.' ___ AP soccer:
Winnipeg Free Press
02-05-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
The Whitecaps' rise has been one of the surprises of the MLS season so far
Before the first leg of the Vancouver Whitecaps' CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinal against Lionel Messi and Inter Miami, supporters stretched banners across one end of BC Place. 'You allowed us to dream again,' one said. The fan sentiment expressed in the tifo has spilled over to the Major League Soccer season as the Whitecaps defy expectations. 'I don't know if I've really been a part of such a close locker room before. Everyone who has come in in the last couple of years has said the same thing, and I think that speaks volumes,' top scorer Brian White said. 'And I think you see that on the field, how close this group is.' While it's still early, the Whitecaps sit atop MLS with a 7-1-2 record. They've allowed just seven goals, tied for fewest in the league, while scoring 20, tied for most. White, a new Jersey native who joined Vancouver in 2021, has six total goals and was named the MLS Player of the Month for April. He scored four of those goals in a mid-month match against Austin. Across all competitions this year, the Whitecaps have lost just twice in 18 total games. 'This group of guys is amazing, and it's not just to say that, I really believe it,' said Serbian defender Ranko Veselinović, who has been with Vancouver since 2020. 'All the guys are on the same page, we work with each other, we have good relationships. That's the foundation for success and I think this year we can do special things.' The fast start stands in contrast to Vancouver's more recent history. Last season, the Whitecaps finished eighth in the standings and routed the Portland Timbers 5-0 in a wild-card game. But they fell to LAFC in the first round of the playoffs. The Whitecaps have qualified for the playoffs in three of the past five years but haven't advanced out of the first round in that span. Since the team joined the league in 2011, the furthest they've gone in the playoffs is the quarterfinals, in 2015 and 2017. Coach Vanni Sartini was fired in late November after three seasons at the helm, and Vancouver didn't name his replacement — Danish coach Jesper Sorensen — until mid-January. Adding to the offseason upheaval was the announcement the Whitecaps were for sale. Greg Kerfoot has been owner of the club since 2002, when it was part of the North American Soccer League. Steve Luczo, Jeff Mallett and former NBA star Steve Nash joined Kerfoot in 2008, and the Whitecaps became part of MLS in 2011. A new owner has not emerged, and there are concerns among the fanbase that the team could be moved. But in the meantime, the Whitecaps keep winning. Vancouver's rise has grabbed attention because of the 5-1 aggregate victory over Inter Miami that sent the Whitecaps through to the Champions Cup final at Cruz Azul on June 1. Much has been made about the star-studded Miami team's failure — but Vancouver demonstrated its newfound resurgence with its 3-1 second-leg victory on Miami's home turf. White and Pedro Vite scored goals just two minutes apart to open the second half before Sebastian Berhalter added a third in the 71st minute. Cruz Azul downed Tigres 2-1 on aggregate in the other semifinal to win a spot in the final. Should the Whitecaps defeat the Liga MX club, they would qualify for a spot in the 2029 Club World Cup and this summer's Intercontinental Cup. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. 'We're dreamers, you know,' Berhalter said. 'Why not? We're a small market club. But why not? Why not win the whole thing?' There's also the MLS season. The Whitecaps host Real Salt Lake on Saturday. 'The sky's the limit to what we can achieve this year,' White said. 'Hopefully, we stay healthy, stay humble, know where we come from, believe in ourselves and continue to push hard.' ___ AP soccer:
Associated Press
02-05-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
The Whitecaps' rise has been one of the surprises of the MLS season so far
Before the first leg of the Vancouver Whitecaps' CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinal against Lionel Messi and Inter Miami, supporters stretched banners across one end of BC Place. 'You allowed us to dream again,' one said. The fan sentiment expressed in the tifo has spilled over to the Major League Soccer season as the Whitecaps defy expectations. 'I don't know if I've really been a part of such a close locker room before. Everyone who has come in in the last couple of years has said the same thing, and I think that speaks volumes,' top scorer Brian White said. 'And I think you see that on the field, how close this group is.' While it's still early, the Whitecaps sit atop MLS with a 7-1-2 record. They've allowed just seven goals, tied for fewest in the league, while scoring 20, tied for most. White, a new Jersey native who joined Vancouver in 2021, has six total goals and was named the MLS Player of the Month for April. He scored four of those goals in a mid-month match against Austin. Across all competitions this year, the Whitecaps have lost just twice in 18 total games. 'This group of guys is amazing, and it's not just to say that, I really believe it,' said Serbian defender Ranko Veselinović, who has been with Vancouver since 2020. 'All the guys are on the same page, we work with each other, we have good relationships. That's the foundation for success and I think this year we can do special things.' The fast start stands in contrast to Vancouver's more recent history. Last season, the Whitecaps finished eighth in the standings and routed the Portland Timbers 5-0 in a wild-card game. But they fell to LAFC in the first round of the playoffs. The Whitecaps have qualified for the playoffs in three of the past five years but haven't advanced out of the first round in that span. Since the team joined the league in 2011, the furthest they've gone in the playoffs is the quarterfinals, in 2015 and 2017. Coach Vanni Sartini was fired in late November after three seasons at the helm, and Vancouver didn't name his replacement — Danish coach Jesper Sorensen — until mid-January. Adding to the offseason upheaval was the announcement the Whitecaps were for sale. Greg Kerfoot has been owner of the club since 2002, when it was part of the North American Soccer League. Steve Luczo, Jeff Mallett and former NBA star Steve Nash joined Kerfoot in 2008, and the Whitecaps became part of MLS in 2011. A new owner has not emerged, and there are concerns among the fanbase that the team could be moved. But in the meantime, the Whitecaps keep winning. Vancouver's rise has grabbed attention because of the 5-1 aggregate victory over Inter Miami that sent the Whitecaps through to the Champions Cup final at Cruz Azul on June 1. Much has been made about the star-studded Miami team's failure — but Vancouver demonstrated its newfound resurgence with its 3-1 second-leg victory on Miami's home turf. White and Pedro Vite scored goals just two minutes apart to open the second half before Sebastian Berhalter added a third in the 71st minute. Cruz Azul downed Tigres 2-1 on aggregate in the other semifinal to win a spot in the final. Should the Whitecaps defeat the Liga MX club, they would qualify for a spot in the 2029 Club World Cup and this summer's Intercontinental Cup. 'We're dreamers, you know,' Berhalter said. 'Why not? We're a small market club. But why not? Why not win the whole thing?' There's also the MLS season. The Whitecaps host Real Salt Lake on Saturday. 'The sky's the limit to what we can achieve this year,' White said. 'Hopefully, we stay healthy, stay humble, know where we come from, believe in ourselves and continue to push hard.' ___ AP soccer:
