Argentina’s national football team and the star Lionel Messi are not coming to Kerala for the friendly match. The prior excitement has turned in vain as the sponsors and the Argentina Football Association officially announced their only schedule for Angola, next month. However, following rumours, the match might be rescheduled to March.
The Argentine media reported about Kerala’s “lack of readiness” and delays in wrapping up logistical preparations within the scheduled timeline, citing these reasons for their cancellation.
While the organisers proposed rescheduling the visit in March, it converged with Kerala’s Assembly polls scheduled for April or May of next year.
The official cancellation stirred the political controversy, drawing criticism from Congress leaders. They accused the state government of prematurely announcing the event without AFA’s formal confirmation.
The episode reflects the complexities faced by India in managing international sports logistics. The transparency among stakeholders is often the key differentiator between success and setback. The cancellation has come as a major disappointment to Indian football fans—most notably in Kerala, where Argentina and Messi command a passionate fan base.
Messi stepped onto indian soil in 2011. He led Argentina for the first time against Venezuela at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium.
