Messi-led Argentina to play in Kochi, not Thiruvananthapuram

Kochi: The proposed football friendlies in Kerala featuring Lionel Messi's Argentina national team have been moved from Thiruvananthapuram to Kochi.

A confirmation in this regard is expected to arrive from Sports Minister V Abdurahiman's office soon. World Cup winners Argentina are expected to play at least two friendlies in Kerala in the FIFA window in November.

Though the Greenfield Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram was initially declared as the venue for the friendlies, it is understood that the facility was not found suitable to host international football due to the presence of cricket wickets.

The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi, which is the home ground of Indian Super League side Kerala Blasters, is the only international-level football ground in Kerala. The venue hosted the FIFA men's Under-17 World Cup in 2017.

However, it is what plans the government has for the shops that operate in the JNI Stadium complex. During the U-17 World, all the shops were removed from the stadium complex as insisted by FIFA due to security concerns.

On August 23, the Argentina Football Association (AFA) confirmed the national team's visit to Kerala. Argentina are scheduled to play in the United States in the October window, before travelling to Kerala for the November friendlies. Luanda (Angola) is another host for Argentina's November friendlies.

The opponents for both fixtures are yet to be announced.

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