Lionel Messi In India : Messi's India Tour Postponed! Match Not Canceled Due to Lack of FIFA Permission, Awaiting New Date

The match featuring Argentina's captain Lionel Messi and his team, scheduled to be played in India, has been postponed. This match was to be held on November 17 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi. However, due to the delay in obtaining FIFA's permission, the Argentina Football Association (AFA) and the organizers have decided to temporarily suspend the match.

This match was to be organized under the sponsorship of the Reporter Broadcasting Company. The company's Managing Director, Anto Augustine, informed about this decision on social media, stating, “Due to the delay in obtaining official permission from FIFA, the Argentina team's tour of Kerala has been postponed. The match has not been canceled. It will be played in the next international 'FIFA window'. The new date will be announced soon.”

Meanwhile, according to the Spanish newspaper La Nación, an official from the Argentine Football Association stated that there was a delay in fulfilling some technical and organizational conditions from India. As a result, it was not possible to hold the match in November.

The announcement of the Argentina team's tour of India was made by Kerala's Sports Minister V. Abdurahman a few months ago. Subsequently, there was confusion regarding this match. Finally, after discussions between the organizers and the AFA, it has been decided to postpone the match. Now, it is likely to be organized during the FIFA international window in March 2026.