Israel will host Argentina for a soccer friendly on June 9, days before the start of the World Cup in Russia, the Israel Football Federation says on Thursday.
Israel’s federation agrees to pay $3 million to host the match with the two-time World Cup winners (1978 and 1986) who were also finalists in 2014, Israeli media reports.
The amount could be reduced by half if star Lionel Messi does not play out of fear of being injured before the World Cup, the reports say.
The location of the match has not yet been announced, with details of the contract still being worked out, the federation says.
Israel did not qualify for the World Cup.
Argentina will play their first World Cup match on June 16 against Iceland before also facing Croatia and Nigeria in Group D.
— AFP
FC Barcelona football player Lionel Messi at the Western Wall with the FC Barcelona team in Jerusalem’s Old City, August 4, 2013. (Alex Kolomoisky/Flash90)
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