Lionel Messi’s India visit take major blow as Argentina’s friendly in Kochi gets postponed

Lionel Messi’s India visit take major blow as Argentina’s friendly in Kochi gets postponed

Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, will not travel to India next month as reported by Sportstar. The match was originally set for November 17 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi. But Anto Augustine, general director of Reporter Broadcasting Company, the friendly's sponsor, announced on social media that the game will now take place during FIFA's upcoming international match window.

There was a delay in obtaining FIFA's approval for the match, Anto stated on Facebook. He said that a meeting with the Argentine Football Association (AFA) led to the decision.

"Considering the delay in receiving FIFA's permission, after discussions with the Argentine Football Association (AFA), it has been decided to postpone the match from the November window," Augustine wrote.

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There had been a great deal of misunderstanding around Argentina's friendly ever since the Kerala Sports Minister made the announcement. The AFA announced in August that their side will play in Kochi, despite the Minister himself at one point claiming the game had been canceled.

However, recent media sources in Argentina have suggested that the India match is unlikely to take place in November and could only take place in March 2026. There has been no formal communication regarding the postponement, according to officials in Kerala Sports Minister V Abdurahiman's office.

According to an official, the department will confirm the timetable adjustment after consulting with the relevant authorities.

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AFA members had already inspected the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium in Kochi. It was anticipated that the Argentina national team would play a top international team in the Kochi friendly.