Doha: It’s now official - Lionel Messi and his World Cup-winning Argentina squad will not be playing in Kerala this November, despite earlier claims made by Kerala Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman. The Argentine Football Association (AFA) has released its confirmed schedule for next month, and India is not included.

According to the AFA statement issued on Saturday, the team led by coach Lionel Scaloni will travel to Spain in November for training sessions before heading to Luanda, Angola, for their only friendly match on Friday, November 14. Following the game, the delegation will return to South America to continue preparations until November 18, coinciding with the end of the FIFA World Cup window.

Meanwhile, in a Facebook post in Malayalam, sponsor Anto Augustine clarified that the proposed Argentina match in Kerala has been postponed due to delays in obtaining FIFA approval. He assured that the match would be rescheduled in the next international window, with an official announcement expected soon.