A friendly fixture featuring Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, has been delayed and will no longer take place in Kerala in the November international window. The match had originally been scheduled for November 17 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kochi in Ernakulam, but organisers announced a shift to the next available FIFA international window.
According to a statement shared on social media by the event’s sponsor, the postponement comes after a delayed approval from FIFA and discussions with the Argentine Football Association (AFA). The sponsor’s managing director explained that the decision was taken following delays in obtaining required permissions.
In earlier reports, the AFA cited that the state venue failed to meet several hosting standards and mentioned “repeated breaches” in the pre-match preparations. A delegation had visited India to inspect the stadium and accommodation, yet the necessary conditions were not fulfilled.
The match announcement had come from the Kerala Sports Minister, and there was uncertainty when at one stage the game appeared to be cancelled, before the AFA later reaffirmed plans for a fixture in Kochi. Recent Argentine press also suggests the match could now shift to March 2026.
