The Argentine Football Association (AFA) announced on Tuesday two new solidarity campaigns to help those affected by the Bahía Blanca floods. 

National men’s football team head coach Lionel Scaloni confirmed his team will play a friendly match against its under-20 counterpart, with all proceeds from the event going to the Dr. José Penna Hospital. The health center had to be shut down on the day of the floods, after the neonatology wing had to be evacuated, with videos posted online showing nurses wading through knee-deep floodwater carrying babies out of the ward.

“We felt we had to do something, it’s critical we help out the people affected,” Scaloni said at the press conference announcing the decision. “It’s our way to help the hospital get back on their feet with the proceeds. The ticket price is just symbolic. We have to put down our grain of sand. It’ll go a long way to helping the people in Bahía Blanca.”

The game is set to kick off on Saturday at 5:00 p.m., at the Tomás Adolfo Ducó stadium. Tickets went on sale this Wednesday on digital platform DEPORTICK, and have to be picked up at the stadium’s ticket offices on Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., or on Saturday, March 22, from 9 to 2. Prices range from AR$20,000 to AR$30,000 (US$15,43 and US$23,14 at the MEP rate).

The AFA also announced a new campaign called “Un gol por un Techo” (A goal for a roof), alongside Techo, a Latin American NGO focused on building emergency housing, community infrastructure, and promoting access to basic rights.

With this effort, the Argentine football governing body will donate the equivalent to the cost of one house for every goal scored by the Argentine men’s national team. The first set of houses will be destined to the areas in Bahía Blanca affected by the flood. 

“This partnership we signed is of chief importance,” said AFA president Claudio Tapia, adding he sees it as a way for the Argentine national team to help those who “need it the most.”