June 10 (Reuters) – A security lapse resulted in the exposure of passport details for all players in Argentina’s squad, including Lionel Messi, ahead of their pre-World Cup warm-up match against Iceland, according to media reports.
The passport numbers, which appeared on the official team sheet, were supposed to be obscured before being made public.
However, they were distributed unredacted at Alabama’s Jordan-Hare Stadium.
Reuters has reached out to the Argentinian Football Federation and FIFA for their comments.
Argentina secured a 3-0 victory in the match, witnessed by over 88,000 attendees. Messi, returning from a hamstring injury, scored just two minutes after entering in the second half.
Lautaro Martinez was fouled in the penalty area following a pass from Messi.
Messi then converted the penalty, extending Argentina’s lead to 2-0, and became the nation’s oldest goalscorer at 38 years and 11 months, surpassing Angel Labruna’s record from 1957 by two months.
Argentina is set to begin their title defense with a Group J match against Algeria on Tuesday.
