Messi will join Argentina for two friendlies before Copa América. What you need to know
World Cup champion Lionel Messi will participate in two Argentina friendlies early next month before Copa América begins June 20.
Messi was officially named to Argentina’s 29-man roster for the friendlies on Monday. Argentina will use the matches to gauge its roster and select 26 players to participate in Copa América.
This summer’s Copa América could be the last major tournament Messi, 36, plays with Argentina after continuing to compete despite declaring the 2022 World Cup his last.
Messi returns to captain Argentina against Ecuador at Soldier Field in Chicago on June 9 at 5:30 p.m. ET. Argentina will face Guatemala five days later near Washington D.C. at Commanders Field in Landover, Maryland at 7:30 p.m. ET June 14.
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DC TICKETS: Experience Messi and Argentina vs. Guatemala
Both matchups will serve as warmups for Argentina, which won Copa América in 2021 before winning the World Cup in Qatar.
Messi and Argentina will take center stage in the Copa América opener at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta June 20.
Messi has three matches remaining with MLS club Inter Miami before he joins Argentina.
Here is Messi’s upcoming schedule with Inter Miami and Argentina this summer:
Inter Miami’s upcoming schedule before Copa América
Inter Miami will return to action after a week off, but have a Saturday-Wednesday-Saturday slate before the upcoming FIFA international window.
∎May 25: Inter Miami at Vancouver, 10:30 p.m. ET
∎May 29: Inter Miami vs. Atlanta United, 7:30 p.m. ET
∎June 1: Inter Miami vs. St. Louis City, 7:30 p.m. ET
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Argentina’s Copa América warmup matches
∎June 9: Argentina vs. Ecuador, Soldier Field in Chicago, 5:30 p.m. ET
∎June 14: Argentina vs. Guatemala, FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland, 7:30 p.m. ET
Argentina’s Copa America group play schedule
Argentina is in Group A with Canada, Chile and Peru.
∎June 20: Argentina vs. Canada, Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, 8 p.m. ET
∎June 25: Argentina vs. Chile, MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, 9 p.m. ET
∎June 29: Argentina vs. Peru, Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, 8 p.m. ET
Where will Messi, Argentina play if they advance Copa América group stage?
∎July 4 or 5: If Argentina advances out of the group stage, it will play a quarterfinal matchup in Houston or Arlington, Texas.
∎July 9: If Argentina advances to the Copa América semifinal, it would play at MetLife Stadium again.
∎July 13: The Copa América third-place game will be held at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.
∎July 14: The Copa América final will be held at Hard Rock Stadium.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Messi, Argentina to play in Chicago, DC before Copa America: More info