KOCHI : The much-anticipated football match featuring Lionel Messi and the Argentina national team in Kerala has been postponed following a delay in receiving official clearance from FIFA, organisers confirmed on Friday.
Originally scheduled for November 17 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Ernakulam, the friendly will now be held during FIFA’s next international match window, according to an announcement by Anto Augustine, Managing Director of Reporter Broadcasting Company, the sponsor of the event.
“Considering the delay in receiving FIFA’s permission, and after discussions with the Argentine Football Association (AFA), it has been decided to postpone the match from the November window,” Augustine wrote in a Facebook post, adding that the new date will be announced soon.
The decision follows a report by Spanish outlet La Nación, which quoted an AFA official stating that Argentina would not travel to Kerala as the venue “did not meet hosting requirements” and citing “repeated breaches” in event preparations.
“We did everything possible to make it happen in November; a delegation even visited India to inspect the field and hotels,” the AFA official was quoted as saying. “But India could not meet the standards, and there were repeated breaches. We will now reorganise the contract and find a new date.”
Since Kerala Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman first announced the match earlier this year, the event has faced a series of conflicting reports and logistical hurdles. The Minister had once declared the game cancelled, only for the AFA to later confirm in August that Argentina would indeed play in Kochi.
However, renewed uncertainty surfaced after Argentine media hinted that the fixture could be moved to March 2026, pending resolution of administrative and regulatory requirements.
While fans across Kerala had hoped to witness the World Cup champions in action, organisers expressed optimism that the dream fixture would still take place — just at a later date.
Lionel Messi and Argentina's visit to Kerala has been postponed due to FIFA clearance delays. Originally planned for November 17, the match will be rescheduled for a future FIFA window. Organizers cited venue inadequacies and preparation breaches, but remain optimistic about hosting the event later.