The excitement around Lionel Messi’s much-awaited visit to Kerala has hit a fresh snag. Conflicting reports have cast doubt over Argentina’s friendly against Australia, scheduled for November 17 at Kochi’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
While Spanish daily La Nación reported that the Argentina Football Association (AFA) had called off the trip after “unsatisfactory arrangements” by Indian organisers, local officials and the event sponsor maintain the match will take place as planned.
An AFA official told La Nación, “We did everything possible to make it happen. A delegation even visited India to inspect the field, hotels, and arrangements, but the requirements were not met.” The report also claimed the game could be moved to March 2026.
What are the organisers saying?
In Kerala, however, Anto Augustine, Managing Director of Reporter Broadcasting Company and the official event sponsor dismissed any talk of cancellation. “Those reports are completely false,” Augustine told The Hindu. “Argentina will arrive in Kochi on November 15, and the match will be played on November 17 as scheduled. Messi will be part of the full-strength squad, including Lautaro Martínez and Emiliano Martínez.”
He added that a fan meet is being planned for November 18, replacing an earlier proposal for an open-bus parade in Kozhikode. “We want this to be a celebration that brings new energy to Indian football,” Augustine said.
State gears up for the big game
Preparations in Kochi are in full swing. The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium is undergoing a ₹70-crore renovation with upgraded seating, improved floodlights, parking facilities, and enhanced safety systems. A team from NIT Calicut has cleared the venue as structurally fit to host an international fixture.
Kochi City Police Commissioner Putta Vimaladithya said high-level security meetings are underway. “We expect close to 50,000 spectators,” he told reporters. “CCTV, drones and barricades will be deployed. Only ticketholders will be allowed near the venue.”
A senior official from the Kerala Sports Ministry confirmed that the State is coordinating with the AFA and Australian officials. “The Argentina team is expected on November 15,” the official said. “We are still waiting for confirmation on Messi’s inclusion, which will be his personal decision.”
A match bigger than sport
The stakes for Kerala are emotional as much as sporting. The State, home to some of India’s most passionate football fans, has long treated Argentina and Brazil as part of its sporting identity. Streets in Kochi and Malappuram are already decked in blue and white, mirroring Buenos Aires.
For fans who have idolised Messi from afar, his arrival would mark a dream decade in the making. But with contradictory statements from both sides, the world’s eyes are now on Kochi, waiting to see if the match that could rewrite Indian football’s story finally takes the field.
