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The Kerala state government is likely to spend around ₹32-40 crore for hosting the Argentine football team featuring Lionel Messi. The national team of Argentina will reportedly tour the Indian subcontinent in October 2025, where they will engage in a couple of friendly matches in Kerala. The Sports Minister of the South Indian state participated in an online meeting with the officials of the AFA on Thursday, January 18.
According to the Times of India, in the meeting, the Argentine Football Association expressed their interest in visiting India for a few friendly matches in the state. Kerala’s Sports Minister V Abdurahiman said that they are exploring the possibilities of hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup winners in October 2025. The minister also said that though the plan was to host games in July 2024, it had to be postponed due to the monsoon season in the country at that time.
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The estimated amount to have the world champions in the country would cost the government around ₹32 to 40 crore. However, a government source had told TOI, “The state government will have to bear the expenses of both Argentine and their rivals which will be huge. If Argentina agree to play against our NT, it would be a huge boost for India. But it is unlikely that the world champions would agree to play against a side way below their FIFA rankings.”
Later, the Kerala Government confirmed the news by posting on Facebook. It read, “Remember, last year AIFF had declined an offer put forward by the Argentinian national team to play football in our country citing huge costs involved. The news was heartbreaking for fans of Argentina across the country, especially for those in Kerala. Now that is what forced us to send an invitation to the world champions. And the champion team, which is very well aware of the love and support they receive from Kerala, gleefully accepted our request.”
