Soccer on High Alert in Los Angeles

Diego Pablo Simeone appeared on the grass of the Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles at 10:30 AM on Saturday to address the media ahead of the match today (21:00, Telecinco and DAZN) between Atlético Madrid and Paris Saint Germain at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. This was not the planned schedule, but protests from the Latino community against the Trump administration’s immigration policy are already shaping the agenda of the Club World Cup.

This newspaper has learned that FIFA has sent a special team to Los Angeles to manage any issues that may arise from the protests in the streets. This exclusive delegation was urgently sent to the City of Angels and informed Atlético Madrid’s expedition on Friday afternoon that, for security reasons, the press conference for their coach and three players scheduled for 6:30 PM was moved forward by nine hours. Additionally, the location was also changed. Simeone and the three players did not speak at the stadium where the match is held, as protocol dictates in major international tournaments. The press engagement was organized at the usual training facility chosen by Atlético in Los Angeles, the aforementioned Memorial Coliseum.

“First, we need to adapt to the situation, which doesn’t depend on us, but on what is happening in the country. So far, we have had no issues: we have been able to work, rest, and arrive on time for training. Our routine hasn’t been disrupted in any way regarding our matches. The World Cup starts soon, and we will be sitting and watching the match. What happens goes beyond what we can manage,” reflected the Argentine coach. PSG received the same communication, and Luis Enrique arrived earlier than scheduled at the University of Irvine facilities.

This match between Atlético and the reigning European champion, the most star-studded clash in the opening phase of the Club World Cup, has been deeply affected by the social conflict that is already spreading across the country. Across the country, around 1,800 protests were planned for yesterday and today. There is a palpable tense calm in the streets, and most Latinos who engage with the press predict “a hot weekend.”

The apparent tranquility conveyed by Atlético was disrupted on Friday with FIFA’s order to change the press conference time. This was the first unmistakable sign that Atlético’s concentration in Los Angeles lacks peace and normalcy.

Until now, the curfew enacted by the mayor of Los Angeles, the noise of helicopters, and the sight of helicopters zigzagging like fireflies among the skyscrapers adjacent to the Conrad hotel housing the red-and-white delegation were viewed as mere discomfort rather than danger. The players who have appeared, such as Azpilicueta, Galán, Le Normand, and Giuliano, were well-prepared and aligned with the official discourse of calm to avoid causing alarm with their statements. They all mentioned the annoyance of sirens and helicopters but assured that they remained focused on their work. “Obviously, at night we hear the helicopters, sirens, and all that, but our heads are in the match. We need to be 110% focused on it,” emphasized Simeone’s son. Yesterday, early in the morning, the abrupt sound of police car caravans with sirens functioning as a deterrent was already noticeable at the red-and-white headquarters, the Conrad hotel. During the improvised press conference on the edge of the pitch, a helicopter appeared just as captain Koke was about to speak. “Another day, like every day. I don’t know if this is the best way to prepare for a match like this; in the end, these are circumstances that happen in life. We try to concentrate as much as possible and arrive at the match well.”

Concern has been escalating both within Atlético and FIFA, as evidenced by the presence of this group of special envoys in Los Angeles to handle a potential crisis. So far, the tournament organizing entity, led by Gianni Infantino, has ruled out moving Atlético’s lodging to a safer place, even though the unrest has occurred just 200 meters from the hotel. However, FIFA has already acknowledged that developments may force them to evacuate Atlético from ground zero or even consider, in the event of a serious situation, suspending the matches in Los Angeles. This decision won’t be easy because it would imply sending the message that any World Cup host city could be disrupted by vandalism.

In this ongoing alert atmosphere, Atlético and PSG will face off in a match that could determine who leads the group at the end of the first phase. What happens in the streets of Los Angeles may dictate outcomes for this first major Club World Cup.