FIFA World Champions Argentina Set to Grace Kerala in 2025 for Friendly Matches
In a thrilling development for football enthusiasts in Kerala, the Argentinian national football team is poised to visit the state for a series of friendly matches in October 2025. The news was unveiled by Kerala Sports Minister V Abdurahiman in a Facebook post following an online discussion with officials from the Argentine Football Association (AFA), including Pablo Diaz and Navas Meeran. The AFA has expressed a keen interest in collaborating with the Kerala Football Association, aiming to impart football coaching to 5000 students in the state. The announcement comes on the heels of last year’s disappointment when India declined an offer from Argentina to play due to high costs, prompting Kerala to extend an invitation to the FIFA world champions.
The AFA’s commitment to fostering football development in Kerala is evident as they plan to engage in various activities to boost the sport’s popularity in the football-crazy state. Despite the initial proposal for the Argentine team to visit in June 2024, logistical challenges prompted a rescheduling to October 2025. Minister Abdurahiman acknowledged the difficulty of the task but expressed confidence that hosting the champion team would be a monumental gift to football fans in Kerala, bolstering the confidence of local sportsmen. This exciting revelation follows a similar social media post by the minister in June 2023, where he lamented the All India Football Federation’s decision to reject an opportunity for the Indian National Football Team to face Argentina in a friendly match, underlining Kerala’s unwavering passion for football, especially for teams like Argentina and Brazil.
The eagerly anticipated arrival of the Argentinian national football team in Kerala promises not only thrilling friendly matches but also an opportunity for the state to enhance its football culture with the support of the AFA, adding a significant chapter to Kerala’s love affair with the sport.
