According to official sources at Kerala’s sports department on Tuesday, the Lionel Messi-led Argentina team would probably play Australia in the much anticipated friendly match in November.
According to the sources, the game would take place in Kochi on any day between November 12 and November 18, however no specific date has been set. They went on to say that the South American giants’ opponent will probably be Australia.
According to another source, an Argentine support staff member is anticipated to arrive in Kochi on Wednesday “for venue inspection.”
The team’s proposed visit to Kerala has not been without controversy, with reports earlier in August suggesting that the South American side might skip the state altogether.
Later in the month, though, the defending world champions put an end to rumors by announcing that they would play a FIFA friendly in Kerala in November against an unnamed opponent.
The team’s visit for the game was also confirmed by V Abdurahiman, the state’s minister of sports.
“The Argentine national team, led by Lionel Scaloni, will have two FIFA friendlies in the remainder of 2025. The first, in October, from the 6th to the 14th, will be played in the United States (opponents and cities to be determined),” the Argentine Football Association had written on its official X handle.
“The second, FIFA friendlies in November, from the 10th to the 18th, will be played in Luanda, Angola, and Kerala, India (opponents to be determined),” the AFA statement had read.
Messi is anticipated to go to several Indian cities in December after his visit to Kerala, including Kolkata, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Delhi, where he is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In September 2024, Adburahiman traveled to Spain to meet with Argentine Football Association officials to finalize the arrangements, which sparked the initial push to invite Messi-led Argentina to Kerala.
Argentina last traveled to India in 2011 to play Venezuela at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium.
