For weeks, pleasure gripped Kerala as Lionel Messi and the Argentina nationwide staff had been set to make their long-awaited return to India. The World Cup champions had been scheduled to play a historic pleasant match at Kochi’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on November 17, a fixture that promised to convey the magic of Messi to Indian soil for the primary time in over a decade.
Nonetheless, Argentina’s go to has now been postponed, leaving Indian followers heartbroken. Messi, the worldwide icon and captain of the Albiceleste, won’t be coming to Kerala this November. The Argentina Soccer Affiliation (AFA) confirmed that the staff will play solely in Angola throughout the upcoming worldwide window, successfully cancelling their Indian leg.
The frustration runs deep in Kerala, the place ardour for Argentina and Messi rivals that of Buenos Aires itself. For a lot of, this was to be a once-in-a-lifetime probability to see their hero in particular person.
The announcement got here from Anto Augustine, Managing Director of Reporter Broadcasting Firm and Emraj Group Worldwide, who was among the many chief organizers of the occasion. In a Fb submit, Augustine wrote, “Contemplating the delay in receiving FIFA’s permission, after discussions with the Argentine Soccer Affiliation (AFA), it has been determined to postpone the match from the November window.”
He added that the match will now be performed within the subsequent FIFA worldwide window, with the new date to be introduced quickly. The choice got here after consultations with AFA representatives, who had earlier carried out inspections on the Kochi stadium and native inns to make sure readiness. Regardless of months of planning, India’s dream fixture has been derailed — and the rationale behind it reveals the complexity of internet hosting a FIFA-sanctioned occasion.
The actual purpose behind the delay
Based on Augustine, and later confirmed by AFA officers quoted in La Nacion, the delay in receiving FIFA’s remaining approval was the first trigger for the postponement. Organizers in Kerala had reportedly submitted the required paperwork late, whereas the AFA cited “repeated regulatory breaches” and “logistical shortcomings” on India’s half.
An AFA spokesperson defined, “We made each effort to prepare the match in November. A delegation even visited India to examine the stadium and inns, however sadly, India couldn’t fulfill the required situations. Repeated breaches of laws pressured us to restructure the settlement and determine on a brand new date.”
Kerala’s Sports activities Minister V. Abdurahiman additionally confirmed the problem, saying FIFA’s approval remained the ultimate impediment: “Regardless that the All India Soccer Federation and the Asian Soccer Confederation really helpful it, and we met FIFA’s vice-president, the approval remains to be pending.” He added that whereas the Kochi stadium had handed most audits, minor points like lighting delays and documentation gaps stalled the method.
Lionel Messi celebrates Argentina’s purpose together with his teammates.
When will the match happen as a substitute?
The organizers have hinted that the pleasant can be rescheduled to the subsequent FIFA worldwide window, with reviews suggesting March 2026 because the potential new date. Nonetheless, that interval coincides with Kerala’s Meeting elections, which may complicate logistics and scheduling as soon as once more.
Nonetheless, optimism stays. Augustine assured followers that “the match will occur — it’s solely postponed, not cancelled.” For now, La Albiceleste’s November schedule contains coaching in Spain and a pleasant in opposition to Angola on November 14, after which the squad will return to South America.
