Will Lionel Messi Play In Kerala? Here’s Big Update On Argentina’s Visit To Kochi

A new ‘Big Update’ throws Argentina’s November friendly into jeopardy, as organizers and the AFA issue conflicting statements.

October 22, 2025: The much-anticipated visit of the World Champion Argentina men’s football team, led by superstar Lionel Messi, to Kerala has been called off. The friendly match against Australia, scheduled to take place in Kochi next month, will not go ahead, with the Argentine Football Association (AFA) citing a failure by the local hosts to meet the necessary requirements.

The cancellation, reported by the Spanish media outlet La Nacion, comes as a major blow to football-mad Kerala, where fans had been eagerly preparing to welcome the three-time FIFA World Cup winners.

AFA Blames ‘Repeated Breaches’

According to the report, an AFA official confirmed the cancellation, stating that the deal collapsed due to multiple failures on the Indian side.

“We did everything possible to make it happen in November; a delegation even travelled to India to see the field, the hotel… but ultimately, India couldn’t meet the requirements,” the AFA official was quoted as saying by La Nacion.

The official further added a sterner reason for the deal falling through: “Unfortunately, there were repeated breaches by India, and what we’re going to do is reorganise the contract to find a new date.”

The statement suggests a possibility of rescheduling the fixture, with the AFA reportedly looking at a potential date in March of next year.

Argentine Journalist Confirms Cancellation

Adding weight to the report, popular Argentine journalist Gastón Edul also claimed on October 15, 2025, that the India fixture had been scrapped. In an X post, Edul stated, “Argentina’s next matches are in November, between the 10th and the 19th. The match in India fell through. The one against Angola is confirmed.” The confirmation of an alternative fixture indicates Argentina is already adjusting its plans for the FIFA international window.

The news marks an unfortunate end to months of excitement and preparations. Kerala’s massive football fanbase, known for its passionate support of the Argentine team, will now have to wait indefinitely for the chance to see their hero, Lionel Messi, play on Indian soil.

The cancellation adds to a difficult period for Indian football fans, following closely on the heels of Cristiano Ronaldo’s decision to skip Al Nassr’s AFC Champions League 2 match against FC Goa.