Following their FIFA World Cup triumph in Qatar, efforts were made to bring the Argentina national football team to Bangladesh. Lionel Messi and his teammates were close to confirming a schedule for their visit, but the plan eventually fell through. Rumours then emerged that the world champions might instead visit neighbouring India.
It was supposed to be Messi’s second visit to India after 14 years. Kerala’s Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman had earlier announced that the Argentine team would play a friendly match in the state this October. However, that dream now appears to be fading.
According to reports in Indian media, the main reason behind the cancellation is financial constraints. Hosting the Argentina team was estimated to cost a minimum of ₹100 crore (around USD 12 million)—a sum that organisers have failed to raise. Furthermore, the contractual agreement with the Argentine football authorities has reportedly expired, with organisers unable to meet key financial commitments.
The All Kerala Gold and Silver Merchants Association had taken on the role of primary sponsor and attempted to raise funds through the “Oloppo” app. Out of the required ₹100 crore, ₹70 crore was initially allocated for Argentina’s visit.
Despite those efforts, the plan failed to generate enough traction. When it became clear that the initiative wasn’t drawing enough attention or support, the Kerala government transferred sponsorship responsibilities to Report Broadcasting Company Private Limited.
Back in March, Kerala’s sports minister had announced at an event in Kozhikode that Messi would visit the state from October 25 to November 2. The itinerary included a friendly match and a 20-minute interactive session with fans to discuss football. But with recent developments, the entire Argentina team’s visit, including Messi’s, is now in serious doubt.
