FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) – The upcoming FIFA World Cup match between Argentina and Cape Verde is being regarded as a David-versus-Goliath face-off, and the highly anticipated showdown is going down in South Florida.<\/p>\n
As Argentina\u2019s soccer team arrived back at their hotel in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday night, fans waited outside security gates to film them.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve always loved Argentina. We are Argentinian as well, and we\u2019ve been following them since forever, and now since they\u2019re here, it\u2019s honestly amazing to be able to be so close to them and to watch them in our home,\u201d said Argentina fan Ariana Waigand. <\/p>\n
\u201cVery proud. We have a tough team, and let\u2019s see. Tomorrow we have a difficult game, but hopefully, hopefully we win,\u201d said Argentina fan Bruno Martinez.<\/p>\n
The closest fans were able to get to the team was behind security gates, and they\u2019re okay with that, especially a soon-to-be 10-year-old whose favorite player is Lionel Messi.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s amazing. He\u2019s humble, I love him,\u201d said Argentina fan Benjamin Raffa. \u201cGo Argentina!\u201d<\/p>\n
Video captured on Thursday afternoon shows moments when Argentina left in buses outside of The Dalmar, Fort Lauderdale, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, to attend practice. Soccer fans were going crazy for them. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a great experience. We came here to get the signature of the players for the shirt. We couldn\u2019t, but we tried,\u201d said Martinez.<\/p>\n
On Thursday morning, 7News cameras caught fans holding up signs outside of The Dalmar, where the Argentinian national team is getting some last-minute relaxation before Friday evening\u2019s knockout-round game at Miami Stadium.<\/p>\n
Among them was a very excited family who flew from Argentina. They told 7News they\u2019re from the same part of Argentina as the team\u2019s captain: soccer icon Lionel Messi.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are from Argentina, from the Santa Fe Province, the same province as Leo Messi, [former player] Lionel Scaloni, so we are so excited about our team, because we love Argentina, we love the selections from Argentina,\u201d said one of the fans.<\/p>\n
Wednesday night, a cellphone video posted on social media captured fans cheering as the buses transporting the team arrived at their hotel.<\/p>\n
And because of the fanfare, the security presence outside the hotel is heavy. Fort Lauderdale Police officers blocked off the entrance, and a command post was set up.<\/p>\n
7News spoke with two fans, Mariano Hector Ibanes and Juan Pedro Larraburu, who came all the way from Argentina to watch the game.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe Argentines are very passional with the f\u00fatbol, very passionate,\u201d said one of the fans.<\/p>\n
Cape Verde fans are passionate too.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are small but powerful. Small but mighty,\u201d said a Cape Verde fan.<\/p>\n
\u201cSmall in size, but big-hearted people,\u201d said a Cape Verde fan.<\/p>\n
Ibanes and Larraburu came to The Dalmar to see if they could get a glimpse of their team.<\/p>\n
Speaking in Spanish, Larraburu said the U.S. doesn\u2019t consider f\u00fatbol a big sport.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, the fans said, the Latin American welcome in Miami has been overwhelming, and they are ready to win.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis team is the best of every [national soccer team] in all the history of f\u00fatbol in Argentina,\u201d said Ibanes.<\/p>\n
Argentina is set to square off against the small country of Cape Verde, whose team has reached so many draws against powerhouse moments that they\u2019ve seized the spotlight as one of the underdogs of this year\u2019s tournament.<\/p>\n
But come Friday, the Argentinians are hoping that the buck stops with them.<\/p>\n
The defending champions have sailed through the group rounds, winning the last game 3-1. Messi didn\u2019t even start in that last match of the group round, but he did score a goal around the 79-minute mark, his sixth of the tournament. Now he\u2019s got a World Cup record by scoring in seven consecutive games.<\/p>\n
The team from Cape Verde, a tiny island country located roughly 350 miles off the western coast of Senegal in West Africa, is looking to make it into the Sweet 16 for the first time. They were able to hold Spain, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia to a draw, and that was enough to send them into the knockout round.<\/p>\n
Players for Cape Verde are not taking anything for granted, especially Vozinha, the 40-year-old goalkeeper who\u2019s gone viral for his stunning blocks.<\/p>\n
\u201cI worked all my life for this, for this moment, for this dream,\u201d he said in an interview.<\/p>\n
Ibanes, who said this is the fourth time seeing Argentina play in the World Cup, said he has some thoughts on Friday\u2019s game.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s easy,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
A huge cookout pep rally in Miami Beach is happening as of Thursday afternoon for soccer fans.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe champion is Argentina,\u201d said a soccer fan. <\/p>\n
The Argentina-Cape Verde game is set to start Friday at 6 p.m. at the Miami Stadium. Those still looking to go may purchase some tickets on the resale market for about $2,300.<\/p>\n
Copyright 2026 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.<\/p>\n
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