A big takeaway from Friday’s draw is the strong possibility that one of soccer’s biggest stars could be back in North Texas this summer. Lionel Messi, an Argentine soccer player, made his Dallas debut last year for a scrimmage and drew tens of thousands of fans. Argentina fans filled the s treets after the team won the 2022 World Cup. Friday, they celebrated again during the 2025 World Cup draw. “We’re really excited. We’re happy we got a really good group,” said Joaquin Franco, owner of Argentina 163, a restaurant in Euless, which held a watch party Friday. The restaurant is named Argentina 163 because of the 16 times Argentina has won the Copa America and the three times it’s been the World Cup champion. The first thing you see in the restaurant is a giant photo of Messi kissing the World Cup trophy. “One of our biggest dreams that we have is to meet the national team and for Messi to come here and eat and hopefully meet him one day,” said Franco. In January 2024, more than 30,000 fans braved frigid weather at the Cotton Bowl just to see Messi play in a friendly against FC Dallas, many refusing to miss what could’ve been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. “I love him pretty much,” one fan said at the game. But now fans may get another shot. With two games from Argentina’s group to be played in Arlington, chances are high that Messi and the defending will return to North Texas, and possibly have the team’s base here. David Balyeat assisted Argentina as a World Cup volunteer when the team came to the Cotton Bowl in 1994. He grew up in Argentina and says he’s thrilled the team may return. “I would love for Argentina to win it back-to-back. That would be historic, especially because Messi would solidify anybody’s doubts about who he is as a player,” said Balyeat.The exact match schedule for ATT Stadium will be announced Saturday. ...read more read less