Auburn Set to Host Argentina and Iceland on Road to 2026 World Cup

Auburn is set to host a high-profile international soccer exhibition at Jordan-Hare Stadium, with Argentina expected to face Iceland in a World Cup tuneup match on the Plains. Organizers said the World Cup rosters will be finalized on June 1, eight days before the exhibition, and they expect Argentina captain Lionel Messi to remain with the team and take part in the match at Auburn.

Watson said the event is being presented as a showcase of the sport’s top talent and a likely preview of the group that could be competing for the World Cup title later this summer. He described the matchup as a special opportunity for Auburn and for soccer fans in the region, noting that Messi’s presence is part of the excitement surrounding the event. The match is being promoted as the final tuneup on the Road to ’26 and a major moment for the university and the community.

Tickets for the general public are scheduled to go on sale on Wednesday, April 15, after an earlier presale period for Auburn University faculty, staff, students, donors, WarEagle+ members and football season ticket holders. Prices will start at $45, making the event accessible to a broad range of fans while still drawing significant attention as a rare international soccer appearance in the stadium.

Auburn deputy athletics director Rhett Hobart said the university hopes fans will take advantage of the opportunity to see some of the most recognizable athletes in the world play in person. He said the event is designed not only to celebrate soccer but also to highlight Auburn’s campus and the atmosphere inside Jordan-Hare Stadium. Hobart emphasized that the match offers a chance to be part of a history-making event that could attract worldwide attention.

Athletics director John Cohen said hosting Argentina and Iceland is both an honor and a financial opportunity for Auburn. He pointed out that generating revenue has become increasingly important for college athletics as schools adapt to changing demands and expenses. Cohen said the event reflects Auburn’s ability to stage major events beyond college football and to bring global sports to a venue long associated with historic moments.

Jordan-Hare Stadium, known for legendary college football figures such as Pat Sullivan, Bo Jackson and Cam Newton, could soon host another marquee name in Lionel Messi. Cohen noted that since 1939 the stadium has been the site of unforgettable college football moments, but now it will be used for a different kind of football. He called it a tremendous achievement that the reigning FIFA World Cup champions selected Auburn for their final match before defending their title, and he thanked those who helped bring the Road to ’26 event to the corner of Donahue and Heisman.