The much-anticipated visit of the Lionel Messi-led Argentina national football team to India, scheduled for the FIFA international window from November 10–18 in Kerala, has been officially called off. The country’s football federation, Argentine Football Association (AFA), confirmed that the fixture will no longer go ahead as planned in November, attributing the postponement to delays in obtaining FIFA-clearance alongside unresolved logistical and contractual issues.
Originally revealed in August, the friendly match was set to see Argentina face an unnamed opponent in Kochi during the November FIFA window — a landmark event for Indian football, with hopes running high among fans in Kerala and across the country.
In subsequent weeks however, multiple reports flagged concerns: the AFA cited incomplete payments from local organisers, inadequate venue readiness and the uncertainty of securing timely FIFA approvals.
Despite the concerns, local authorities in Kerala continued to express optimism.
The state’s Sports Minister stated in May that while logistical complications had arisen, the contract remained valid and the event could still proceed. The minister reiterated that the government’s role was limited to facilitating the process, as the match sponsorship lay with a private broadcaster rather than the state itself.
For many supporters in Kerala — one of India’s strongest footballing states with a passionate fan base for Argentina — the development is a disappointment. Early promotional activities had included renovation works at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium (Kochi) with the venue being upgraded to host what was billed as the state’s biggest sporting spectacle. Now, with the match postponed to a later FIFA window, both the state and fans are left waiting for clarity on a rescheduled date.
The AFA has not yet specified a new date for the India fixture, stating only that it is expected to be held in a subsequent international window after November. Local organisers, through social-media posts, have confirmed that the match has been postponed, not cancelled, and are working with the football federation on the next steps.
For Indian football, the proposed visit carried symbolic significance. Messi has considerable standing in the country and Argentina’s presence was expected to shine a spotlight on India’s football infrastructure and fan culture.
The postponement therefore not only dampens enthusiasm but also delays a rare opportunity for Indian audiences to witness a match featuring one of the world’s most celebrated players on home soil. Meanwhile, Argentina will continue its schedule without the Indian leg, and local fans and authorities are now awaiting formal confirmation of the next window and venue.
Until then, the question of when — or if — Messi and his national side will play in India remains open.
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