Table of Contents
Soccer fans in Hong Kong were sad because Lionel Messi didn’t play in his team’s game. The stadium had 40,000 fans who wanted to see Messi. Some people paid $624 for a ticket to the game. But, he stayed on the bench.
His team, Inter Miami, won 4-1.
Many fans wanted a refund. The government was also upset because it paid $2 million for the game in Hong Kong. Messi was required to play for 45 minutes, but he did not play. The coach said Messi was hurt.
People were happy when Messi’s team came to Hong Kong. They watched the team practice. They also waited at the team’s hotel.
The company that organized the game is also upset. They wanted Messi and his teammate Suárez to play, but they didn’t.
Inter Miami and Messi will go to Tokyo next.
Vocabulary
- Fan – a person who likes a sport, team, or celebrity; supporter; follower
- Stadium – a large sports arena where games and events are held, usually with many seats for spectators 🏟️
- Bench – The place where players sit when they are not playing in the game;
- Refund – money that is given back to you; a repayment of money
- Government – the group of people who have the authority to make and enforce laws and manage a country or region; the people/group that manage and operate a country
- Upset – Feeling sad, angry, or disappointed about something
- Million – 1,000,000 = one-million
- Required – necessary; have to; obligatory; mandatory; needed
- Coach – manager; the boss of a team
- Hurt – To cause pain or damage to someone; to feel pain or have an injury; to have damage to the body
- Organize – Plan and arrange something
- Teammate – a member of the same team in a sport; a person on the same team
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Discussion Questions
- How do you think the soccer fans in Hong Kong felt when Lionel Messi didn’t play in the game?
- Why do you think some people paid $624 for a ticket to watch the game?
- Do you agree with the fans who wanted a refund because Messi didn’t play? Why or why not?
- Why do you think the government paid money for Messi and Inter Miami to play in Hong Kong?
- English teachers looking for teaching ideas, check out my post on using easy news articles for lessons.
- English learners looking for study ideas, check out my post on using news stories for English practice.
Original Story
Fill-in-the-Blank Listening Practice
Soccer _____ in Hong Kong were sad because Lionel Messi didn’t _____ in his team’s game. The stadium had _____ fans who wanted to see Messi. Some people paid $_____ for a ticket to the game. But, he stayed on the _____.
His team, Inter Miami, _____ 4-1.
Many fans wanted a _____. The government was also upset because it _____ $2 million for the game in Hong Kong. Messi was _____ to play for 45 minutes, but he did not play. The coach said Messi was _____.
People were happy when Messi’s _____ came to Hong Kong. They watched the team practice. They also _____ at the team’s hotel.
The company that organized the game is also _____. They wanted Messi and his _____ Suárez to play, but they didn’t.
Inter Miami and Messi will go to _____ next.
