Concentrated during the World Cup in Kansas City, Missouri, considered one of the “barbecue” capitals [churrasco] In the United States, the Argentina team has been taking advantage of its days off in the quiet city in the American Midwest to promote celebrations between players, managers and coaching staff with the traditional Argentine “parrilladas”.
Since they landed to compete in the FIFA national team tournament in North America, three large barbecues have already been promoted by the AFA (Argentine Football Association), the last of which was on the eve of Saturday night’s clash (27) against Jordan, when Lionel Messi scored his sixth goal in the competition.
Amid a behind-the-scenes political dispute with the president of Argentina, Javier Milei, the head of the AFA, Claudio Chiqui Tapia, even published a video on his Instagram account —which already has more than 1 million “likes”— in which he shares one of these moments.
Goalkeeper Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez and attackers Lautaro Martínez and Flaco López are some of the athletes who appear in the play taking advantage of the abundance and even taking risks on the barbecue.
“Everything without fat, everything light, right?” jokes Aston Villa’s charismatic goalkeeper during the recordings, accompanied by the song “Para la Gilada”, by the Argentine cumbia band Meta Guacha.
According to Argentine media reports, around 500 kilos of beef were dispatched by the Argentine federation to supply the delegation in Kansas City.
The barbecues are led by chef Diego Iacovone, the national team’s official cook since 1999 and considered a kind of Albiceleste amulet in major competitions.
Among the players’ favorite cuts, the chorizo steak, the rib and the vacío (known in Brazil as diaper) stand out.
Barbecues during the World Cup have already become a tradition in Argentina. In Qatar, in 2022, during the campaign towards the third championship, around 2,600 kilos of meat were roasted by the champions.
The main name of the cast, star Lionel Messi has already recognized that, although he is a great fan of the Argentine “asado”, he is not that fond of preparing the barbecue.
“I’m not much of a barbecue person. I’m more of a follower. I don’t do it that much, but obviously I know how to light a fire”, declared the number 10 in an interview in mid-2019.
After adding three victories in the three group stage matches and achieving the second best campaign in the first phase of the World Cup, behind only France, the well-supplied Argentina returns to the field on the 3rd (Friday), at 7pm, against Cape Verde, at the Hard Rock Stadium, in Miami, for the first knockout round of the tournament.
