New Delhi: Star player Lionel Messi along with the team would not be visiting India next month as Argentina’s friendly match in Kochi has been postponed, sponsors announced on Saturday. Earlier the sponsor of the proposed football match, Anto Augustine, along with the state sports department, had announced that the Argentina team led by Messi would play a friendly match in Kochi on November 17.

Messi, who was visiting India after a long gap of 14 years, was set to travel to Kolkata, Mumbai and Delhi but the sponsor announced on his Facebook page that the match will not take place next month. Taking to social media, he said that the postponement has happened due to a delay in receiving FIFA’s permission. He added that the matter was discussed with the Argentina Football Association.

‘Considering the delay in receiving FIFA’s permission, after discussions with the Argentine Football Association (AFA), it has been decided to postpone the match from the November window,’ Augustine wrote.

BREAKING! Looks like Messi and Argentina will not be coming to Kerala in November (Arg was to play Australia in Kochi on Nov. 17)! Argentina will play Angola in Luanda on Nov 14, says AFA. And Football Australia confirms games vs Venezuela (Nov. 14) and Colombia (Nov 18) in USA pic.twitter.com/f8mMdCykas

— Stan Rayan (@StanByMe28) October 24, 2025

New date to be announced soon

Augustine further said that the match in Kerala will be held during the next international window and the new date would be announced soon. Meanwhile, officials in the office of Kerala Sports Minister V Abdurahiman said that they have nit received any official communication about the postponement till now.

The department further said that it will speak with the concerned authorities and confirm the change in schedule, an official confirmed. Earlier, AFA representatives had paid a visit to the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium in Kochi to assess the facilities and condition ahead of the game. The Argentina national team was expected to play a top international side in the friendly match in Kochi.

(With PTI inputs)