Lionel Messi in India – Argentina to face Kerala football friendly in 2025
AFA confirms two November friendlies on the schedule
DUBAI – India is preparing for one of its most anticipated sporting moments, as Lionel Messi and reigning World Cup champions Argentina are confirmed to play an international friendly in Kerala during the FIFA window in November 2025.
Kerala Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman announced that the Argentine Football Association (AFA) had officially communicated the team’s visit. The fixture is set to be staged at the Greenfield Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, with final details expected in the coming months.
This will mark the first appearance of Messi and his World Cup-winning teammates in India, sparking nationwide excitement, particularly in Kerala, a state renowned for its deep-rooted passion for South American football.
Argentina to play three friendlies in India
According to the AFA, Argentina will play a series of three friendlies in the final months of 2025. The first set will be held in the United States between 6 and 14 October, followed by matches in Luanda, Angola, and Kerala, India, between 10 and 18 November.
#SelecciónMayor Información sobre los amistosos internacionales 2025 que afrontará la Selección conducida por Lionel Scaloni.
— ???????? Selección Argentina ⭐⭐⭐ (@Argentina) August 22, 2025
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While the opponents in Kerala are yet to be finalised, discussions are underway with teams including Morocco, Costa Rica, Australia and Japan. The friendlies will serve as part of Argentina’s preparations ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
How is Kerala preparing?
The Kerala government is preparing extensive arrangements for security, hospitality and fan management, anticipating an unprecedented turnout. The state’s football culture has long idolised Argentine legends, from Diego Maradona to Lionel Messi, making the upcoming visit a symbolic connection between local supporters and their heroes.
Reporter Broadcasting Company, Argentina’s commercial partner in Kerala, is managing the event logistics. The firm has already paid INR 130 crore to the AFA as part of an agreement signed in December 2024, with the total project value estimated at around INR 400 crore. Officials from the AFA are expected to inspect the Greenfield Stadium later this year to ensure pitch and safety standards.
When did Argentina last visit India?
This will be Argentina’s first appearance in India since 2011, when they faced Venezuela in a friendly at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium. Their 2025 visit is also seen as a gesture of gratitude, as Argentina had publicly thanked Kerala, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh for their overwhelming support during the 2022 World Cup campaign.
#Qatar2022
— ???????? Selección Argentina ⭐⭐⭐ (@Argentina) December 19, 2022
Thank you Bangladesh ????
Thank you Kerala, India, Pakistan. Your support was wonderful! https://t.co/GvKwUP2hwJ
Speculation remains around whether Messi himself will take the field, though he is widely expected to lead the squad. In addition, the 38-year-old forward is slated for a separate “GOAT Tour of India 2025” in December, with events planned in Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Mumbai and New Delhi, including a statue unveiling, concerts and a proposed “GOAT Cup.”