Will the late arrival of Lionel Messi and the Argentina national football team in Venezuela on Wednesday evening affect their gameplay?

Due to travel issues caused by Hurricane Milton affecting Florida, the team departed from Miami yesterday, stopping in Colombia before reaching Venezuela just hours before their World Cup qualifying match at Monumental Stadium in Maturín. The match is set to begin at 5 p.m. ET today.

Messi is anticipated to play against Venezuela. This will be his first match with the national team since injuring his right ankle during the Copa America final against Colombia on July 14.

He was absent during Argentina’s 3-0 win over Chile on September 6 and the 2-1 loss to Colombia on September 10, which was a rematch of the Copa America final. That defeat marked only the fourth loss for Argentina in their last 65 matches.

Stay tuned here for live updates on the Venezuela vs. Argentina match:

Where to watch Venezuela vs. Argentina live?

You can stream the game live on Fanatiz with a subscription.

Will Messi play in Venezuela today?

Yes, Messi is expected to take the field today against Venezuela.

Messi returned from injury to play for Inter Miami on September 14. Since then, he has participated in five matches, netting four goals and helping Inter Miami clinch the MLS Supporters’ Shield. This title adds to the 46 major trophies he has won throughout his remarkable career.

“Messi is doing well. He has played several matches recently after missing the last call-up due to his recovery and the need for more playing time,” said Argentine coach Lionel Scaloni this week. “Leo has been training with the team and is prepared to face Venezuela, who will be a formidable opponent.”

Is Argentina at risk of an upset? Betting odds against Venezuela

Are Argentina’s chances at risk for a second straight loss? Betting experts don’t think so. Argentina is favored to win with odds of -175, while Venezuela’s odds are +525 for a victory, and a regulation draw stands at +270 according to BETMGM.

Teams that have defeated Argentina recently

Prior to their 2-1 loss to Colombia, Argentina’s recent defeats include a loss to Uruguay in last November’s World Cup qualifiers, an earlier loss to Saudi Arabia in the 2022 World Cup opener, and a semifinal defeat to Brazil in the 2019 Copa America.

Argentina leaves Miami ahead of Hurricane Milton

The World Cup champions faced travel difficulties due to Venezuelan government restrictions, preventing a direct flight from the US to Venezuela. They traveled from Miami to Barranquilla, Colombia, and finally to Maturín, Venezuela, arriving Wednesday night.

Argentina practiced this week at Inter Miami’s training facility in Fort Lauderdale, which was scheduled before Hurricane Milton, a Category 3 storm, struck Florida late Wednesday.

Upcoming schedule for Messi and Argentina

After their match tonight, Messi and Argentina will head home for a matchup against Bolivia next Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET.

Following that game, Messi will be back in South Florida for Inter Miami’s regular-season finale on October 19. The MLS Cup Playoffs are set to start on October 25.