india is poised to witness a historic football event this november, as global superstar Lionel Messi and the reigning FIFA world cup champions, argentina, are set to arrive in kerala for a friendly match. kerala sports minister V. Abdurahiman announced the official confirmation via social media, following an email from the Argentine Football Association (AFA) regarding their participation in an international fixture during the FIFA international Match Window in november 2025.
This will be the first visit of Messi and his World Cup-winning teammates to india, generating immense excitement among football fans nationwide, especially in kerala, a state known for its passion for South American football. The kerala Football Association (KFA), in collaboration with the All india Football Federation (AIFF), is finalizing details, including the venue, with preliminary discussions suggesting the Greenfield Stadium in thiruvananthapuram as a possible location.
The match will serve as part of Argentina's preparation for the 2026 FIFA world cup qualifiers, with Messi—who led argentina to victory in qatar 2022—expected to captain the team, although the final squad list will be confirmed closer to the match date. The kerala state government plans to provide full support for security, crowd management, and hospitality.
Tourism officials anticipate that Messi's presence will significantly enhance Kerala's international profile, attracting fans and visitors from across the globe. For generations of indian football enthusiasts, especially in kerala, who have followed argentina since the days of Diego Maradona, Messi's arrival is heralded as a "dream come true." However, the sports minister has faced criticism from the opposition congress party, notably from its state president Sunny Joseph, who coined the hashtag "Messi is missing" during the lead-up to this announcement.
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