Why is Lionel Messi's Argentina not coming to India?

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / May 16, 2025, 15:48 IST

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Kerala's football fans will have to wait longer to see Lionel Messi play on their soil. Despite efforts by Kerala Sports Minister V Abdurahiman, Argentina's 2026 schedule excludes the state, with matches planned in China, Qatar, and Africa. The dream of hosting Messi, especially after Argentina's World Cup victory, is deferred.

Lionel Messi

Kerala football fans' hopes of watching Lionel Messi and the World Cup-winning Argentine team play on their home soil have been dashed, as Argentina's 2026 schedule reveals matches planned in China, Qatar, and Africa instead. This development comes after Kerala Sports Minister V Abdurahiman and his team had announced potential exhibition matches in Kerala following discussions with the Argentina Football Association in Spain last November.The last time Messi played in India was in 2011, during an international friendly match against Venezuela at Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium. The match attracted numerous football enthusiasts from Kerala, including current CPI(M) General Secretary M.A. Baby.

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The districts of Malappuram and Kozhikode in Kerala have long been strongholds of support for the Argentine national team. This support intensified after Argentina's victory in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar under Messi's leadership.

Abdurahiman, who hails from Malappuram, had been actively working to bring Messi to Kerala. Following his delegation's visit to Spain last year, he had announced the possibility of matches in the last quarter of 2026.Quiz: Who's that IPL player?The timing of the proposed matches was significant, as Kerala is scheduled to hold its government elections in April/May 2026, coinciding with the next FIFA World Cup.

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The football-loving state will now have to wait longer to see if their dream of hosting Messi and the Argentine team can materialize in the future. The current schedule of Argentina's matches does not include any games in Kerala.The efforts made by the Kerala government and Minister Abdurahiman to bring the World Cup champions to the state have not yielded the desired results. The football enthusiasts in Kerala, known for their passionate support of the Argentine team, will need to continue their wait to see their favorite players in action on home ground.

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TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

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