Football fans in Kerala were eagerly anticipating Lionel Messi to lead Argentina against Australia, but that excitement now faces uncertainty. The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, given a Rs 70 crore makeover, is almost ready for Messi’s arrival, with new seats, floodlights and security, even reports of shops closing for a month.
Social media has been buzzing with Messi fever, but reports now suggest the friendly could be called off, casting doubt on what was promised to be a landmark game.
Messi’s planned visit to Kerala comes ahead of his personal India tour in December, where he will visit several cities as part of the GOAT Tour. The superstar is expected to appear in Kolkata, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and New Delhi on December 13, 14 and 15, giving fans across India a chance to see him up close. However, November’s match against the Argentine national team in Kerala was expected to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for football fans in the southern state. Organizers have confirmed that a full squad of World Cup winners will be on the trip, including Emiliano Martinez, Alexis Mac Allister, Rodrigo De Paul, Nicolas Otamendi, Julian Alvarez and, of course, Messi. The announcement sparked a frenzy, with ticket sales, local events and fan gatherings already being planned in anticipation of the iconic visit.
However, recent updates from Argentine sports outlets have thrown November’s fixture into uncertainty. Journalist Gaston Edul reported on X that while Argentina’s friendly against Angola in Luanda is confirmed, the Indian leg of the tour may have “fallen through”. TyC Sports also suggested that Argentina may adjust their plans for the international window and potentially play another African nation instead of the trip to India. Fans who have been eagerly waiting to see Messi live are now on alert as speculation continues to swirl.
WHAT THE NEWS SUGGESTS
According to media reports, several factors are behind the potential cancellation of the Kerala Friendly:
- Argentina may prefer a shorter travel schedule and could play the second African nation instead of flying to India.
- Logistics and player workloads during the FIFA international window can complicate planning for an away friendly match.
- Some sources suggest that not all the star players who were initially expected to go to India may be part of the squad.
- TyC Sports said there is a possibility of moving the match to Morocco to simplify logistics.
In addition, there is talk that the match could be postponed to March 2026. Moving the match to early next year would allow Argentina to manage player fatigue and schedules more effectively, while also giving Indian fans an opportunity to see Messi on home soil.
ORGANIZERS SAY THE MATCH IS ON
Despite the rumours, the organizers have confirmed that the friendly match between Argentina and Australia in Kerala will go ahead. Anto Augustine, MD of Reporter TV, said that all arrangements, approvals and ticket sales have been completed and dismissed the cancellation reports as baseless.
“There is no information about cancellation of Kerala plans. Argentina ‘A’ team will visit Kerala,” said Reporter Broadcasting Executive Director Anto Augustine.
“This is the November FIFA window and it has been confirmed that way, not a club match. All the documentation and financial matters have already been sorted out. I consider these to be baseless rumours,” he said.
The match falls within the FIFA international window, has the full support of the authorities and the stadium preparations meet international standards. Fans can expect Messi and Argentina to take the pitch in Kochi on November 17 as scheduled.
Messi’s visit, be it for the Argentina friendly or his GOAT Tour in December, continues to generate immense excitement across India. The GOAT Tour will visit Kolkata, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and New Delhi on December 13, 14 and 15.
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Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
October 16, 2025
