Minister Confirms Messi's Argentina Will Play In Kerala: 'No Further Obstacles'

Last Updated:
Kerala Sports Minister V Abdurahiman is confident that Lionel Messi's Argentina will visit Kerala in October or November.
Kerala Sports Minister V Abdurahiman confirmed on Saturday that the Argentina national football team, captained by Lionel Messi, will visit the state as previously announced. He confirmed the sponsor's payment of the match fee.
Abdurahiman stated the team's visit is anticipated in October or November. They will be accorded state guest status, with the government providing security, accommodation, and other necessities. This reassurance comes despite earlier media reports suggesting cancellation due to contract breaches by the sponsors, keeping hopes alive for Kerala's football fans.
Both Abdurahiman and the sponsor, Reporter Broadcasting Company, refuted previous reports, maintaining the world champions' commitment to a friendly match in Kerala. The Minister revived the topic with a Facebook post on Friday, stating, 'Messi will come," and expressing gratitude to the sponsor.
On Saturday, Abdurahiman clarified to the media that a delay in the match fee payment had been resolved. 'The sponsor has paid the amount. There are no further obstacles. The FIFA window in October-November is typically allotted for international team events. We expect a similar allocation," he said.
According to the contract between the sponsor and the Argentina Football Association (AFA), the team management will jointly announce the date and other details after the fee payment. Abdurahiman added that the sponsor had informed the government of the payment, but they await confirmation from the Argentina team management.
'The sponsors have settled the pre-match contract amount. The government has no financial involvement; the contract is strictly between the sponsor and the team management," he explained.
The proposed friendly match will likely occur at the international-standard Greenfield Stadium. The minister emphasised the government's sole aim is to invigorate Kerala's sports sector by hosting the world champions.
First Published:
June 07, 2025, 15:35 IST

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

News18

10 hours ago

• News18

IND vs ENG 1st Test Day 3 1st Session Highlights: England 327/5 At Lunch

Harry Brook remained unbeaten on 57 runs from 77 balls to help England reach 327 for 5 at the end of the first session of the third day's play of the ongoing first Test against India at Headingley in Leeds. The right-handed batter has added 51 runs from 73 balls so far for the sixth wicket with Jamie Smith (29 from 45 balls) after Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj picked up one wicket. IND vs ENG, IND vs ENG 1st Test, IND vs ENG Day 3, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Shardul Thakur, Team India, India vs England, India vs England Test, IND vs ENG Test Series, England Cricket, Indian Bowling Attack, Bumrah wickets, Siraj bowling, Prasidh Krishna debut, Shardul Thakur wickets, Ben Stokes, Ollie Pope, IND vs ENG highlights, Test cricket 2025, India bowling unit, cricket news, IND vs ENG scorecard, India vs England Day 3, Headingley Test, Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, cricket updatesLike and subscribe to our channel and never miss a to CricketNext YouTube channel to never miss a video: CricketNext on Facebook: CricketNext on Twitter: CricketNext on Instagram: :

Hindustan Times

10 hours ago

• Hindustan Times

Thailand are beatable, we can go to Australia: Crispin Chhetri

Kolkata: The thing about FIFA rankings is that they can conceal as much as they reveal. At 46, Thailand top the 2026 AFC Asian Women's Cup qualifiers but it is Timor-Leste, Mongolia and Iraq that worry Crispin Chhetri just as much. Because the India head coach said he has 'zero idea' about them. India women's football team head coach Crispin Chhetri. (AIFF) Explains why Chhetri said that rankings can be tricky, referencing India's losses to Bangladesh and Nepal in the 2024 SAFF Championship to embellish the point. At 70, India are ranked second in the group from which only the winners will go to the finals in Australia next March. India haven't qualified on merit since 2003, Thailand played the 2019 World Cup but Chhetri, who turned 50 on Friday, is not ruling out an upset. 'I think if the players believe in themselves, Thailand are beatable,' said Chhetri. 'Right now, we have started thinking that we could go to Australia.' The comment fits into the positive attitude Chhetri is trying to inculcate. 'I try to instill not to fear losing. Because the day you stop fearing losses is when you will be successful.' India open against Mongolia on Monday, play Iraq on June 29, Timor-Leste on July 2 and Thailand on July 5. All matches will be at the 700th Anniversary Stadium in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Chhetri speaks softly but not without steel, especially when he makes the point about India qualifying for the finals. He will need all of it and then some if India are to meet his target of making the 48-team 2031 World Cup. 'I think we have a realistic chance,' he said, in a virtual call on Saturday. The squad is being built with 2031 in mind, Chhetri said, explaining the omission of goalkeeper Aditi Chauhan and defenders Ashalata Devi and Dalima Chhibber. Together, they have a combined experience of 212 internationals. All three played in the 2024-25 Indian Women's League (IWL) won comprehensively by East Bengal. 'It is not about form,' said Chhetri. But they are no longer automatic starters, he said. 'Why should I block the place of a junior player? We are looking to build a core that will serve India for the next 10 years.' The squad in Chiang Mai has 'senior players but at the same time, younger players who are hungry. So, there is both drive and control.' Soumya Guguloth scored nine goals in IWL, the most by an Indian, and in Manisha Kalyan India have a forward who plays for PAOK in Greece. Kalyan, 23, joined the preparatory camp straight after the European season. Manisha is mentally very strong which explains why she has been able to stay in Europe for three seasons while others have not lasted more than one, said Chhetri. India trained in Bengaluru for nearly 40 days, played two friendlies (both 0-1 defeats to Uzbekistan) and will have been in Thailand one week before their opener. The one thing he would have liked was an exposure tour ahead of the qualifiers but Chhetri said he gave players a fortnight off because they needed a break after IWL. That, and avoiding injuries. Defender Astam Oraon, India captain in the under-17 World Cup, has just returned from an anterior cruciate ligament injury, and along with forwards Sandhiya Ranganathan, Renu and Karishma Shirvoikar are unavailable on fitness grounds. Ranganathan will be missed, said Chhetri. Like Manolo Marquez with the senior men's team, Chhetri has been juggling responsibilities for Odisha FC and India. As per his contracts with the club and All India Football Federation, it will be that way till February 2026. Odisha FC, champions under Chhetri in 2023-24, being relegated this time – injuries hurt us and we paid for not planning for a strong bench, he said – also means the qualifiers are an opportunity to salvage his reputation.

The Hindu

12 hours ago

• The Hindu

One spectator dead, several injured after fall from upper stand in Algeria

One spectator died and several others were injured after falling from an upper stand of the stadium following MC Alger winning the Algerian top-flight league for the second season in a row, media reports said on Saturday. MC Alger said one of its supporters had died in the incident at the 5 July 1962 Stadium in the capital Algiers, with the Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune offering his condolences and wishing a speedy recovery for the injured. 'It is with great sadness and sorrow and with hearts that we received the news of our supporter Younes Amguzzi, who passed away after falling from the upper stands,' MC Alger said in an Instagram post. Local media reports said the spectators fell after a fence in the upper stand broke, with El Heddaf TV's Facebook page posting a video showing part of a railing collapsing into the lower tier. The injured spectators were rushed to the hospital, where MC Alger players, staff, and administrators also went to donate blood as the trophy presentation ceremony was postponed, the reports added.