[Saba Sports News] According to British media reports, fans have gone wild for Lionel Messi during the World Cup. Some have flown on planes and even cycled thousands of miles just to catch a glimpse of him. An Argentine team staff member tried to access the squad’s training facility in Kansas City, only to be stopped by security guards who mistook him for a fan. Security protocols have been extremely tight; highways are closed wherever the team bus travels. Locals have joked that the perfect time to rob a bank is while Scaloni’s world champions are out training. Kansas City originally planned to host France for the tournament, yet locals are thrilled to welcome arguably the greatest footballer of all time, as this is likely to be his farewell appearance on the international stage. The city is swarmed with Argentine supporters. Flight bookings to Kansas City have surged by 2143%. Three fans even cycled all the way from South America, spending nine months and crossing 17 countries to reach the venue.
The editor believes that this World Cup has allowed Kansas City to get to know Argentina, and vice versa.