U20 World Cup in Argentina: in La Plata the fever rises waiting to see the best youth on the planet

2023-05-19T09:58:02.230Z

Highlights: 18 matches will be played including the title match, which has already sold out. There will be Fan Fest and gastronomic activities for all tastes. Tickets sold out since the presale to enter the Único Diego Maradona stadium. hotels blocked for passengers who do not belong to the sports delegations and shops that prepare special menus to offer on the dates of matches. A mishap looms for now without chances to solve: the cracks and missing in the roof of the stadium. Storms and gales broke the deck that has imported components.

18 matches will be played including the title match, which has already sold out. There will be Fan Fest and gastronomic activities for all tastes.

Perhaps it does not assume, yet, the category of furor, but the enthusiasm for being chosen the main venue of the U20 World Cup in Argentina is perceived strong in La Plata. Tickets sold out since the presale to enter the Único Diego Maradona stadium, hotels blocked for passengers who do not belong to the sports delegations and shops that prepare special menus to offer on the dates of matches are some of the indications that show the great expectation that there is in the Buenos Aires capital.

But, in addition, there are other movements to put the city in tune with a World Cup scenario that – without a doubt – picks up some trails of the madness that generated only five months ago the coronation of the Senior Team, with Lionel Messi and the fabulous Scaloneta in Qatar 2022.

In a city with intense football fervor, the traditional Fan Fest will be installed, there will be gastronomic movements with typical local and international dishes from the main countries that compete. Also free transfers to the headquarters of the parties and QR in public transport to encourage tourism in the city. In the Municipality of La Plata they prepare to "live a World Experience".

According to the calendar established by FIFA, the capital of the province of Buenos Aires will be the location that will concentrate the largest number of matches throughout the competition. And it will have the icing on the cake: the semifinals and the grand final.

A mishap looms for now without chances to solve: the cracks and missing in the roof of the stadium. Storms and gales broke the deck that has imported components. In the government of the Province of Buenos Aires – which administers the property from the General Secretariat of the government – they admit that it will be "impossible" to fix it in time. The photos with that defect will remain as part of the images of the World Cup.

Some "holes" in the roof of the stadium that were not repaired in time by the Province. Photo: Mauricio Nievas

In the Diego Maradona 18 matches will be played that will have as protagonists the main teams of the contest: Brazil, Uruguay, England and France, among others.

With this perspective and expectation, the commune and the Municipal Tourism Agency (EMATUR) agreed with the gastronomic sector to work on the development of menus inspired by the selected ones that will participate in the tournament, including Colombia, Japan, Uruguay, Brazil, England and France.

In the Fan Fest there will also be an area dedicated to communities with food trucks that will present typical dishes of the visiting countries and different recreational activities. It will operate in the Plaza Moreno on Calle 12 between 51 and 54 with giant screens, cultural shows and food trucks.

Pelota and tourism

The authorities intend to take advantage of the sporting impulse to couple the tourist offer. QR will be installed in taxis with information so that visitors arriving in the City can tour various emblematic spaces. It will also include relevant data on guided tours, performances in theaters and cultural centers and interactive games.

They aim to promote in these three weeks the visits to the Paseo del Bosque, the Astronomical Observatory, the Museum of Natural Sciences, the courts of the Gymnastics and Students clubs, the National University of La Plata, theaters, cultural centers and the historic Republic of Children. All emblematic sites that distinguish the capital of the province.

The Museum of Natural Sciences, an extra attraction for football fans arriving in La Plata.

In recent years, hotel chains have arrived and built and expanded accommodation places. It was one of the weak points of the city that has almost 900 thousand inhabitants.

"The permanent growth in tourism and the opportunity to host the Under-20 World Cup mean work for the people of La Plata," enthuses Mayor Julio Garro, of Together for Change.

At the same time there will be combis specially designed to pick up visitors from hotels to take them for free to the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium on Avenida 32 and 25.

"In line with the growth as a tourist destination, the city strengthens its beer seal with the help of artisanal producers who make a large number of varieties and make them known through fairs, festivals and tastings," Garro explained.

There will be Fan Fest in the city center.

With pizzerias, cafes, ice cream parlors and food houses of the most diverse, gastronomy is another of its emblems, offering not only menus for all tastes, but also a day and night life in constant movement in areas such as Meridiano V, Diagonal 74, City Bell and Gonnet.

"'La Plata, World City' will be the brand to give impetus to the proposals that will be developed in the city in front of this important event," said the head of EMATUR, Daniel Loyola, and said that "it is a great opportunity for entrepreneurs to publicize their attractive proposals to captivate neighbors and visitors. "

The match grid

This is the grid of matches that FIFA arranged that will be played in the Unico:

Sunday 21/5: Israel vs. Israel Colombia
Sunday 21/5: Senegal vs. Senegal Japan
Monday 22/5: England vs. Tunisia
Monday 22/5: Uruguay vs. Iraq
Wednesday 24/5: Senegal vs. Israel Wednesday
24/5: Japan vs. Japan Colombia
Thursday 25/5: Uruguay vs. England
Thursday 25/5: Iraq vs. Iraq Tunisia
Saturday 27/5: Brazil vs. Brazil Nigeria
Saturday 27/5: Colombia vs. Colombia Senegal
Sunday 28/5: Iraq vs. Iraq England
Sunday 28/5: Honduras vs. Honduras France
Wednesday 31/5: Round of 1 (3D vs. <>B/E/F)
Wednesday 31/5: Round of 1 (2D vs <>D)
Thursday 8/6: Semifinal 1
Thursday 8/6: Semifinal 2
Sunday 11/6: Third and fourth place
Sunday 11/6: FINAL.

U20
World Cup Fixture

Group stage

And

GroupA

ARG | UZB | GUA | NZL

Sgo. del EsteroSaturday 20 May

Guatemala