Ted Lasso fans will know that football is life, and now it looks like football is also diplomacy… The Socceroos are set to book a Beijing game against Lionel Messi’s Argentina in a match-up that would be a win for Oz as we try to thaw trade relations with China. If confirmed, the game would happen in mid-June, just weeks after our Trade Minister Don Farrell visits China to advocate for Aussie barley, wine, lobsters, and plenty of other exports that have been restricted/banned in recent times. China’s President Xi Jinping is said to be a soccer nut, and Messi is hugely popular in China. The best player in the world won’t come cheap, with Argentina’s national side charging a cool $7.4 million appearance fee. But if you’re looking for a match closer to home, you can set your clock to 72 days when the FIFA Women’s World Cup kicks off in Australia and Kiwiland.