Kerala Sports Minister V Abdurahiman has said that the state remains hopeful of hosting the Argentina football team, adding that efforts are still underway to make it happen. Speaking to the media, the minister clarified that the doors for Argentina’s visit to Kerala are “not completely closed.”

The delay in FIFA’s approval for renovation works at Kochi’s Kaloor Stadium has reportedly prevented Argentina’s planned November visit. The team’s travel dates were initially announced based on the assumption that the stadium’s refurbishment would be completed on schedule. “If Argentina cannot come in November, they may visit at a later date,” the minister said, alleging that a few individuals had even sent emails attempting to obstruct the visit.

The minister also revealed that Lionel Messi was willing to travel to Kerala alone, without the national team, but the government decided against that arrangement, insisting that Argentina should visit in full this November.

Earlier, the event sponsor had confirmed that neither Messi nor the Argentina team would be travelling to Kerala in November. The clarification came after the Argentina Football Association (AFA) announced that the national side would play only one friendly match in Angola during that period.

Reports in the Argentine media, quoting AFA officials, stated that Kerala was “not ready” to host the match, citing delays in meeting the required arrangements. Both the Kerala government and the sponsors had previously announced that Argentina would play in Kochi on November 17.

Following the sponsor’s confirmation that the team would not be visiting, Opposition Leader VD Satheesan mocked the state government and the sports minister, saying, “Messi has ‘deceived' everyone.” He added that he had predicted this outcome earlier and accused the government of using Messi’s visit as a political campaign tool ahead of the elections. “If Messi’s arrival was used for political promotion, the government must also bear responsibility for his absence,” Satheesan remarked.

The sponsor, Reporter Broadcasting Company, officially announced on Saturday that Argentina would not be travelling to Kerala this November. In a social media statement, the company explained that the decision was made in consultation with the AFA, considering the delay in obtaining FIFA’s approval, and that the match scheduled for the November window had been postponed. (With inputs from Agencies)