Argentina are set to play two matches in the United States next month, following the cancellation of friendlies by Chinese sporting authorities.

The decision came amid criticism aimed at Lionel Messi for not participating in an Inter Miami match in Hong Kong.

The Argentine Football Association announced on Thursday that Lionel Scaloni's team will first face El Salvador at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on March 22, followed by a match against Nigeria at the Coliseum in Los Angeles on March 26.

Argentina were scheduled to play Nigeria in the Chinese city of Hangzhou before facing the Ivory Coast in Beijing, but Messi's failure to take the field for Inter Miami in Hong Kong against a local League XI earlier this month caused widespread anger among fans.

Messi was deemed unfit to play in the friendly, which drew 40,000 fans and saw some spectators paying up to nearly HK$5,000 ($640) for a ticket.

Chinese state media, Hong Kong politicians, and fans reacted angrily three days later when the 36-year-old Argentine forward came off the bench to play in a friendly match in Tokyo against Vissel Kobe.

In a video posted on Weibo, one of China's largest social media platforms, on Monday, eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi said his absence from the match had been caused by an inflamed adductor.