New Delhi, Oct 26 (V7N) — Indian football fans’ long wait to see Lionel Messi play on their soil has ended in disappointment. The Argentina Football Association (AFA) has officially canceled Argentina’s scheduled visit to India, ending hopes of a high-profile friendly in Kerala this November.

The much-anticipated match, which was set to feature World Cup-winning captain Lionel Messi and his teammates, had been in preparation for months. The Kerala government and event organizers had made extensive arrangements to host the Argentine squad. However, the AFA announced that the national team will instead play only one friendly match next month — against Angola in Luanda on November 14 — before returning to Europe for a training session.

Anto Augustin, one of the event’s key sponsors, stated that delays in receiving FIFA approval forced the organizers to postpone the match. “Due to procedural delays in FIFA’s authorization, it was not possible to hold the match in November as planned. In consultation with the AFA, we decided to reschedule the match for the next available window,” he said.

However, the next FIFA international window falls in March 2026, during which Argentina is already scheduled to play Spain in the Finalissima. This means Indian fans may have to wait even longer for Messi’s return to the country.

The last time Messi played in India was in 2011 at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium, where Argentina faced Venezuela in a friendly — a historic night that drew thousands of fans from across the subcontinent.

Despite the cancellation of the upcoming friendly, Messi is still expected to visit India in December as part of the “GOAT Tour,” which includes public appearances and events in Kolkata, Delhi, and Mumbai.

For now, the dream of watching Messi lead Argentina in an Indian stadium remains unfulfilled — a heartbreak for millions of fans who had been eagerly preparing for his much-awaited comeback.

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