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Wales are in talks to play world champions Argentina.<\/p>\n
Lionel Messi and company have been lined up as potential opponents for the Dragons with Wales keen to play Argentina in Cardiff or Patagonia, where thousands of Welsh emigrants settled in the 19th century.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is an ongoing discussion between us and them,\u201d Football Association of Wales chief executive Noel Mooney said about a possible friendly between the two nations.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe spoke to them in the last few days about playing in Cardiff.<\/p>\n
\u201cI met the Argentinian ambassador when he was in Cardiff talking to the Welsh Government.<\/p>\n
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\u201cI used the opportunity to talk to him about the opportunity for Wales to go down to play in Argentina. He was excited by the idea, although he obviously he doesn\u2019t decide who plays who.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wales have played only once at Cardiff\u2019s 74,500-capacity Principality Stadium since 2011 \u2013 a friendly against former European and world champions Spain in October 2018 \u2013 and many Dragons\u2019 fans dislike the idea of playing at the home of Welsh rugby.<\/p>\n
But Wales will return to Principality Stadium should UK and Ireland win their bid to host Euro 2028 in Switzerland next month \u2013 and the Dragons qualify for the tournament.<\/p>\n
The Principality Stadium is among 10 venues to be used across five nations should the UK and Ireland bid be successful.<\/p>\n
Mooney said: \u201cYou\u2019d have to assume we\u2019d need to play some matches there before the competition to get spectators and players used to it.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe haven\u2019t thought that much about it, but what I can say is that we know who we\u2019d like to play if we had to \u2013 World Cup winners Argentina.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe may not be at the very top of their queue, but if you look at Patagonia and the relationship between the two countries it would be great. We\u2019d love to do it.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is a connection and history between us and Argentina because of the Patagonian links and the Welsh people who settled there.<\/p>\n
\u201cI could feel from the Argentine ambassador that warmth they have behind Wales and I\u2019d love to see Lionel Messi playing in Cardiff.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Patagonia is at the southern end of Argentina \u2013 around 1,000 miles from the capital Buenos Aires \u2013 and in 2006 the Wales rugby team played at Puerto Madryn, a city founded by Welsh settlers in 1865.<\/p>\n
Wales and Argentina have only met twice before, with their last fixture being a 2002 friendly at the Principality Stadium when Craig Bellamy scored in a 1-1 draw against the South Americans.<\/p>\n