Lionel Messi in India! Argentina Football Team to play friendly in Kerala

The Argentina football team will play a friendly in Kerala during the November FIFA window.

It is finally happening! Kerala will host the Argentina Football Team for a friendly in India in the November FIFA Window between November 10 and 18, 2025. This visit will mark the first time an Argentine side will play in Kerala.

The official confirmation came through the team’s social media handles earlier today. The opponents for the fixtures are yet to be announced.

“The Argentine national team, led by Lionel Scaloni, will have two FIFA friendlies in the remainder of 2025. The first, in October, from the 6th to the 14th, will be played in the United States (opponents and cities to be determined). The second, a FIFA friendlies in November, from the 10th to the 18th, will be played in Luanda, Angola, and Kerala, India (opponents to be determined),” the statement read.

The announcement has also signalled the beginning of extensive preparations, with officials now expected to finalise venues, logistical arrangements, and coordination with local authorities in the coming weeks.

Roadmap from Speculation to Confirmation

The announcement comes after months of speculation and discussions. The potential of Argentina visiting Kerala was first revealed by Kerala Sports Minister V.

Kerala Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman, during an interview with Khel Now in 2024, revealed that discussions were ongoing and the government was to bring the team into the state. He also explained the positives and long-term output of the event.

But Argentina’s much-anticipated trip to India was clouded by uncertainty for several weeks, as disagreements between the Kerala government, event sponsors, and the Argentine Football Association (AFA) created doubts over whether the friendly would actually go ahead.

At one point, Kerala Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman announced that the team would not be coming, while the sponsors even warned of legal action against the AFA. However, the situation now seems to have been resolved, and Argentina are set to play in India later this year.

This will be the reigning world champions’ second visit to the country. Their first appearance came in 2011, when Lionel Messi led the side in a friendly against Venezuela at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium.

Government’s Role and Minister Abdurahiman’s Efforts

The proposal received momentum after the FIFA World Cup of 2022. Shaji Prabhakaran, former AIFF Secretary General, had revealed that Argentina did show interest in visiting India, but the idea was turned down owing to financial constraints.

Minister Abdurahiman, however, chose to pursue the challenge further. He managed to get the government support, finalised papers, and started engaging possible partners in raising the funds required. His hard work has now been rewarded through the official announcement of the visit. The Augustine brothers, the owners of Reporter TV, are said to be the main sponsors, having provided the funds required to support the visit.

Preparations and Next Steps

The announcement has produced immense excitement in football enthusiasts in India. Fans, who were debating the possibility of Argentina’s tour after almost a year, expressed their happiness through social media after the announcement. The tour will generate unprecedented buzz, keeping in view the rich football culture of Kerala and Argentina’s global popularity.

This will be the first time an Argentinian team will play in Kerala. While announcements about the opponents, stadiums, and tickets are yet to come, preparations will likely start right away. State officials, the organising committee, and sponsors will likely arrange logistics in the subsequent weeks.

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.