DALLAS – One of the world’s most popular athletes takes the pitch at Dallas Stadium in North Texas today as Lionel Messi and Argentina face Austria in the FIFA World Cup.
Thousands of Argentina fans, known for their passionate banderazos pre-match rallies, are waiting to see the defending champions in action. It is expected to be an action-packed day with a historic milestone within reach for Argentina’s captain.
Following a spectacular hat trick in Argentina’s 3-0 victory over Algeria in the opening match, Messi sits tied with Germany’s Miroslav Klose for the most goals in men’s World Cup history at 16. With just one goal today, Messi will claim sole possession of the all-time record.
The match kicks off at noon, but stadium fan zones and Texas Live open at 9 a.m.
LIVE UPDATES: Argentina vs. Austria at Dallas Stadium Thousands of Argentina fans in DFW 
Thousands of Argentina fans have arrived in the Dallas-Fort Worth area to watch the defending World Cup champions in action today. Ahead of the highly anticipated match against Austria, supporters have transformed local plazas into vibrant, flag-waving celebrations!
Pre-match fan zones and nearby Texas Live entertainment venues are scheduled to open at 9 a.m., offering live music, food and interactive rallies.
Fans heading to Dallas Stadium should plan for heavy crowds and check local event guidelines before the noon kickoff.
Transportation to Dallas Stadium 
Many fans will have to rely on public transportation to get in and out of Arlington today. Because Arlington does not operate a traditional mass transit system, regional officials have established a dedicated match-day shuttle network to handle the World Cup crowds.
Soccer fans can take the Trinity Railway Express commuter line from Victory Station in downtown Dallas or Central Station in downtown Fort Worth. Trains will drop passengers off at the CentrePort/DFW Airport Station, where a fleet of 125 charter buses will transport passengers directly to the stadium district.
Transit officials note that the shuttle buses are free for anyone holding a valid match ticket, but commuters should expect total travel times from the downtown stations to average about 1.5 hours.
The Source: Information in this article comes from fans, event schedules and previous reporting.