![\"Fans](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/tfl-l-dalmar-world-cup-fans-04.jpg\")
Fans cheer outside The Dalmar Hotel in Fort Lauderdale as the Argentine team leaves the hotel for their World Cup match on Friday, July 3, 2026. (Mike Stocker\/South Florida Sun Sentinel)<\/p>\nLoyal Argentine soccer fans braved a searing South Florida afternoon in downtown Fort Lauderdale on Friday to give their World Cup national team led by superstar Lionel Messi hearty sendoff to Hard Rock Stadium<\/p>\n
Dressed in the team\u2019s signature t-shirts bearing vertical light blue and white stripes. several dozen spectators gathered outside the team\u2019s headquarters at the heavily secured luxury Dalmar Hotel at Federal Highway and Northeast Third Street<\/p>\n
Shortly before 4 p.m., two buses bearing team members pulled out amid cheers and waves from the fans, who quickly dispersed.<\/p>\n
Watch parties were scheduled at bars and restaurants from downtown Fort Lauderdale to South Beach in\u00a0 Miami-Dade County.<\/p>\n
Marina Dugo, a Pompano Beach resident for the last 24 years, said she attended a party the night before in Miami Beach from the late afternoon until midnight. \u201cIt was unbelievable,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have to be very patriotic to be here with this team,\u201d she said. \u201cThere is only one time in life, you know. In a couple of years maybe I can\u2019t do this anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said her next stop was the stadium to try to secure tickets for the knockout-round game against an upstart Cape Verde team.<\/p>\n
For an out-of-town TV crew, she joined two other uniformed fans with the chant: \u201cVamos! Vamos! Vamos!\u201d<\/p>\n
Heavy security<\/p>\n
The Argentinian contingent arrived Wednesday night aboard buses amid heavy security. The hotel has been inaccessible to non-guests and fans.<\/p>\n
A small sign embedded at the third-floor level of the building\u2019s northeast corner declared,\u00a0 \u201cWelcome FIFA World Cup 2026!\u201d<\/p>\n
On the Federal Highway end of Northeast Third Street, the thoroughfare in front of the hotel\u2019s north entrance is blocked by an 8-foot high fence and patrol cars belonging to the Fort Lauderdale Police Department. A mobile command post operated by the Fort Lauderdale Police Department maintained a security presence across from the hotel entrance.<\/p>\n
Fans cheer outside The Dalmar Hotel in Fort Lauderdale as the Argentine team leaves the hotel for their World Cup match on Friday, July 3, 2026. (Mike Stocker\/South Florida Sun Sentinel)<\/p>\n
The Argentinian sendoff was decidedly benign when compared to the massive rally staged last week by fans of Colombia\u2019s team, which also overnighted at The Dalmar. Some in local law enforcement and businesses said they were taken by surprise by the demonstration\u2019s size, which some estimated to be in the thousands.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was something I had not seen before in all of my life,\u201d said Chad Van Horn of the Van Horn Law Group, which is located a block north of the hotel. \u201cEverybody was very respectful. But there were a lot of them.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said a police command post was set up in front of the entrance to his building\u2019s parking lot.<\/p>\n
An economic lift<\/p>\n
Tight security and disruptions aside, downtown Fort Lauderdale businesses are getting a welcome lift from a monthlong event that government officials believe may will generate up to $175 million in economic impact from the surge of visitors expected to travel to South Florida for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.<\/p>\n
Early Friday at the Top Hat Delicatessen to the west of The Dalmar, tables and the counter were filled with patrons ranging from fans wearing their favorite team uniforms to police officers taking a breakfast hiatus.<\/p>\n
Julio Rodriguez, general manager of Top Hat, said the FIFA presence on the block has delivered a mixed outcome, though mostly positive.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs you can see we have some fans here eating,\u201d Rodriguez said. \u201cAnd we have the police here eating with us, so that\u2019s a plus.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe minus has been with all of the streets being closed, it\u2019s been a little difficult for some our guests to figure out how to get to he restaurant.\u201d<\/p>\n
Of the Colombian pep rally, he said, \u201cwe got lucky on that one because it was at night and it was on the other side of the block.\u201d<\/p>\n
In a sign of expectant harmony for the evening, Billy and Betty Calvo of Pembroke Pines, both Colombians, said they missed last week\u2019s pep rally. However, they did plan on attending an Argentinian watch party.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re going to be friendly because we\u2019re playing different teams,\u201d Billy Calvo said.<\/p>\n
But, he acknowledged: \u201cThey\u2019re our Kryptonite.\u201d<\/p>\n
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