Jordan-Hare Stadium has stood for 87 years as one of college football’s most celebrated venues. On Tuesday night, it will host something it never has before.

Lionel Messi and the reigning World Cup champion Argentina national team will take the field against Iceland in a FIFA World Cup friendly, marking the first international soccer match in Jordan-Hare’s history. The game is also expected to set a record as the highest attended soccer match ever played in the state of Alabama.

Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni confirmed Monday that Messi will appear in the match, though the number of minutes he plays will be determined based on his physical condition. The Inter Miami captain has been managing muscle fatigue in his left hamstring and sat out the team’s previous friendly against Honduras on June 6. He rejoined partial team training on June 5, and Scaloni indicated Tuesday’s game—the final World Cup friendly in the Road to 26 series—will give fans at least some time with the world’s most recognizable soccer player on the pitch.

Argentina’s first World Cup match is scheduled for June 16 against Algeria, making Tuesday’s appearance a carefully managed one for the 37-year-old forward.

For Auburn, the event will operate much like a standard football gameday. Parking lots will open between 3 and 4:45 p.m. depending on location, a fan fest is scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m., and stadium gates will open at 5:30 p.m. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. Auburn officials have noted that security will be heightened beyond a typical gameday given the international profile of the event.

For soccer fans and Auburn faithful alike, it is a rare opportunity: a world-class sporting moment in their own backyard.

Argentina vs. Iceland: What to Know

Date: Tuesday, June 9, 2026

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. CT

Location: Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn, Alabama

Where to watch:ESPN, ESPN Deportes, Fubo, and ViX

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