Messi’s Argentina to play friendlies in Kerala in November, AFA confirms

Kerala Sports Minister V Abdurahiman announced on Saturday that Argentina, captained by Lionel Messi, are set to arrive for a FIFA international friendly match in November.

He said the Argentina Football Association (AFA) has confirmed that their national team, under the management of Lionel Scaloni, will engage in two friendlies later in 2025.

However, the reigning world champions did not confirm if Messi will be part of the team playing in Kerala.

“The Argentine national team, led by Lionel Scaloni, will have two FIFA friendlies in the remainder of 2025,” AFA said in a statement posted on its website.

The first event, it said, will take place in the US from Oct.6 to 14, with the opponents and host cities yet to be determined.

The second event, a set of FIFA friendlies, is scheduled for Nov 10 to 18 and will be held in Luanda, Angola, and Kerala, India.

It also revealed that the opponents and host cities for the event have yet to be determined.

From Dec.12 to 15, the Argentine captain is expected to visit Kolkata, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, and New Delhi, where he will also meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi. As part of the tour in October, the squad is expected to participate in two international friendlies at the Greenfield International Stadium, located in the state capital of Kerala.

Although the AFA’s announcement did not mention Messi, the minister assured fans that his “aim is to provide a platform for supporters to witness Messi play live in Kerala.”

“This is a truly historic moment for Kerala football and our entire sports sector,” Abdurrahman told reporters, while expressing his gratitude.

“We are thrilled that the entire squad, which triumphed in the World Cup with Lionel Messi, will play in our state.”

Further elaborating on the arrangements, he said Kerala had initially requested the AFA to reschedule this fixture to 2025, moving it from the originally planned 2026 date.

“We contacted the AFA and requested that they hold the match in Kerala this year. Our efforts have borne fruit, as they have now officially confirmed the match,” he said.

“A considerable amount of hard work has been invested in securing the Argentina football team’s visit to Kerala. We are in the process of planning logistics.”

He noted the excitement within the state, as millions of football enthusiasts eagerly look forward to this match.

He also confirmed that the event has received the green signal from the federal sports ministry and the Reserve Bank of India, with an official government order already issued.