Lionel Messi’s first match in the Concacaf Champions Cup will have to wait at least one more day, due to bad weather in Kansas City, where Inter Miami was scheduled to face Sporting Kansas City.
The game that was to be played on Tuesday, February 18, was postponed a day (Wednesday) so the start of both teams in the regional tournament to be played at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, due to temperatures that will reach -19 degrees Celsius.
Due to the weather conditions, Concacaf decided to postpone the game, as a significant snowfall is expected in the next 24 hours.
“Due to the inclement weather conditions expected to affect the Kansas City metropolitan area over the next 24 hours, including significant snow accumulation, the match at Children’s Mercy Park, originally scheduled for February 18, will now take place on Wednesday, February 19, with kickoff scheduled for 7:00 pm local time (8:00 pm ET)”, Concacaf said in a statement and on social media.
“The decision to reschedule the match has been taken to prioritise the safety of players and fans, and in close coordination with the two participating clubs and local authorities,” the confederation added.
Leo Messi confirmed to start the match
Meanwhile, the Florida team’s strategist, Argentine Javier Mascherano, said that Messi will be in the match.
“Messi’s availability is 100% and I can guarantee that Leo will play,” said Mascherano, as reported by ESPN.
In addition, the strategist added that the team will play in the same way in which they have been preparing throughout the preseason, a week before the start of the MLS.
“We will try to be protagonists and follow the same line that we have shown throughout the preseason. Clearly, the weather factor, especially if there is snow, can affect or condition our game, but obviously we go with the illusion of achieving a good result that will lead us to the playoffs,” explained Mascherano.
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