Thiruvananthapuram | August 23, 2025 : Football fever is set to grip Kerala this November as Lionel Messi and the Argentina national football team are scheduled to play a FIFA friendly in the state. The Argentine Football Association (AFA) announced on Friday that the reigning world champions will travel to India as part of their November FIFA international window.

The November fixtures include three matches—two in Luanda, Angola, and one in Kerala. While the opponents for these games are yet to be finalized, confirmation of Messi’s visit has already electrified fans across the country.

This will be Messi’s first trip to India since 2011, when Argentina faced Venezuela in a high-profile international friendly in Kolkata. That match, played at the Salt Lake Stadium, drew massive crowds and remains one of the most memorable sporting moments in Indian football history.

AFA’s Schedule

In its statement, the Argentine Football Association said:
“The Argentine national team, led by Lionel Scaloni, will have two FIFA friendly windows 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 second, from November 10th to 18th, will be played in Luanda, Angola, and Kerala, India.”

The announcement follows weeks of speculation after reports claimed that Messi and the Argentine squad had declined Kerala’s invitation due to financial and logistical issues.

Kerala Government’s Role

Kerala’s Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman recently clarified the situation, stating that the government had been assured of Argentina’s visit. “So far, the Argentina team has not said they will skip Kerala. On the contrary, the government has been informed of their arrival in November. Necessary security arrangements have already been requested for the team,” he said.

Abdurahiman also revealed that his meeting with AFA officials in Spain focused not only on securing Argentina’s tour but also on discussions related to a new stadium project in Thiruvananthapuram.

Excitement and Criticism

The confirmation of Messi’s visit is expected to boost Kerala’s global sporting profile, but it has not come without controversy. Earlier, the state government faced criticism for allegedly allocating large funds to host Messi and his team. Opposition leaders had questioned the financial prudence of spending on a one-off event while other sectors demanded urgent investment.

However, with official confirmation from the AFA, football fans in Kerala and beyond have begun celebrating the rare opportunity to watch one of the greatest players of all time live in action.

Awaiting Opponents and Venue

While the opponents and exact venue for the Kerala match are still undecided, the excitement around Messi’s return to India has already sparked a frenzy on social media. The Thiruvananthapuram stadium is widely tipped to host the event, but an official announcement is expected in the coming weeks.

For Indian football fans, November promises to be a historic month as Lionel Messi and Argentina bring the magic of world champion football back to Indian soil after more than a decade.