Messi’s Kochi visit in March faces fresh doubts as no official announcement yet on Argentina friendly match

Uncertainty continues to loom over the visit of the World Cup-winning Argentina team, led by Lionel Messi, for an international friendly match in Kochi, Kerala.

The event’s sponsor, Reporter Broadcasting Corporation (RBC), remains unable to guarantee that the team will arrive during the March window as publicised, after the originally scheduled visit on November 25 was called off.

The Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA), which faced much flak for allotting the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium under its ownership to a private party for hosting the game, allegedly without following due process, also has no clarity on whether the much-hyped visit will materialise. GCDA sources stated that they could neither confirm the visit nor deny that it will not take place, as RBC appears to still be in consultation with the Argentina Football Association (AFA).

“We are not in a position to officially confirm the visit, though we have an agreement in place with the AFA for the team’s arrival. However, the date keeps shifting – originally from October to November, and now to March. We have been informed that an announcement may be made by January 31 in response to a mail we sent a few days ago,” said Anto Augustine, managing director of RBC.

After the original friendly match between Argentina and Australia, scheduled for November 25, was called off in October, RBC handed over the stadium to GCDA on November 28. However, the sponsor claimed that renovation works continued until December 20, the originally agreed date for returning the stadium.

“Renovation works have been completed except for resurfacing the parking lot and finishing a short stretch of the compound wall. Floodlights will be upgraded with new LED fittings, which the sponsors have already procured, depending on whether the visit takes place. The dressing rooms, players’ area, toilets, and playing turf have all been upgraded to international standards,” said GCDA sources.

Mr. Augustine explained that the two pending works were delayed due to legal hurdles, though only a very short portion of the compound wall remains unfinished. He added that works worth around ₹40 crore have been carried out at the stadium. GCDA, however, said that the renovations are being assessed by an expert team comprising members of the agency and the Sports Kerala Foundation, a non-profit company under the Department of Sports and Youth Affairs, which served as the special purpose vehicle for the entire event.