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Putting speculations to rest, reigning world champions Argentina have announced that they will play a FIFA friendly against an unnamed opponent in Kerala in November this year.
The match will take place between November 10 and 18, and is likely to be played Kochi.
“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 Argentine football association wrote on its official X handle.
“The second, 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.
Kerala Sports Minister V Adburahiman too took to his social media accounts to announce the arrival of Argentina, a team that has a huge fan following in the state.
‘World Champions Lionel Messi and his team will play in Kerala in November 2025,’ the minister informed.
Abdurahiman quoted by PTI later told reporters : “Initially, AFA planned it for 2026. However, we contacted them and requested that they hold the match in Kerala this year. Now, AFA has officially confirmed it. We intend to bring the Argentina squad that won the 2022 World Cup.”
“The Argentinian national football team has announced that the team will play in Kerala in November during the FIFA window. The team which won the World Cup under Lionel Messi, the whole squad, will play here.
“We thank the Argentina Football Association for this. It’s a truly historical moment for Kerala football and the entire sports sector,” Adburahiman said in a statement.
Expressing his happiness, Abdurahiman added, “A lot of effort has gone into bringing the Argentina football team to Kerala. We have started planning the rest of the arrangements and will soon discuss the details, including the venue, with the Chief Minister”.
He said several lakh football fans in the state are eagerly awaiting the match. “Our intention is to provide a platform for fans to see Messi play in Kerala,” he said.
