Hear
ATLANTA (special envoy).- The imposing Mercedes Benz stadium will look complete this Thursday with 71,000 spectators sitting for the opening ceremony of the Copa América and the debut of the last champion. Since last weekend, Argentines began to arrive in the capital of the southern state of Georgiawhich received them with a suffocating heat wave, and the Foreign Ministry, embassy and local consulates have already issued warnings for visitors, especially those coming from Argentina.
With Lionel Messi as a banner and farewell to Angel Di Maria, the world champions are undoubtedly the biggest attraction of this competition. The world cup fever derived from Qatar caused the arrival of Argentines residing in the United States, but many others will also do it from Ezeiza. According to the authorities and Conmebol, Nearly 40,000 Albiceleste fans will be present for the match against Canada.
The city will begin to turn blue and white on Wednesday, and a caravan with some 200 mobile homes who will depart that same day from Miami, where the largest community of Argentines in this country lives (it is estimated that there are close to 150,000).
Unlike the last World Cups, local security leaders They will not have to worry about the massive landing of Argentine barsas happened in Germany 2006 with the Borrachos del Tablón in their most violent moment, in South Africa 2010 with Hinchadas Unidas Argentinas, or in Brazil 2014 when nearly 300,000 Argentines crossed the border.
Despite the strict immigration controls that take place in the United States, the Argentine Embassy in Washington and its consular network issued several recommendations to take into account to avoid unpleasant consequences. In short: do little and nothing of what is customary in the preview of any Argentine soccer stadium.
“We recommend to everyone who comes do not drink alcohol on the street -warns THE NATION Alana Lomonaco, Argentine consul in Atlanta- nor light flares, for which you must have a special permit.” Either of these two offenses are punishable directly with jail.
The career diplomat, who arrived at this headquarters last January, warns about a latent danger for any Argentine fan. The portation of arms It has been legal in this state since the governor of Georgia, Republican Brian Kemp, signed a law two years ago that allows carrying them without a license. This means that anyone who buys a gun can simply carry it on their person.
Despite this, Last year the state closed one of the bloodiest records, with more than 100 young people and even babies dead, victims of armed violence. “Teenagers were victims almost daily. In addition to the dead, dozens more were injured by gunfire,” says an investigation published by WSBTV.
Statistics show that a large part of firearms victims are the result of street fights. For this reason, the Argentine consul maintains that the fans who arrive in this city They should avoid arguments or fights in any area.
And adds another recommendation on how they should act towards the authorities. “If the police stop you while driving, you have to put your hands on the wheel”remember.
The owner of the Conmebolthe Paraguayan Alejandro Dominguezconfirmed that up to now they have Nearly a million cup tickets sold.
The prices to witness the opening match between the Argentina and Canada next Thursday the 20th They range between 250 and 600 dollars, depending on location. But unlike what happens in most of the world, here The resale of tickets is not punishable. It is a common practice and, with Messi’s debut in a few days, marketing is beginning to take flight.
Tickets are already offered in some WhatsApp and Facebook groups of Argentinians residing in the state of Georgia. As the hours go by, when the bulk of fans begin to arrive in the city, resale is expected to heat up.
