Lionel Messi-led world champions Argentina will enthrall their millions of fans in India during their visit in October this year for an international friendly, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) announced on Wednesday.
Argentina clinched their third FIFA World Cup at Qatar 2022 and qualified for their title defence in the 2026 edition by beating traditional rivals Brazil 4-1, which coincided with the announcement of their India visit — part of Argentina’s worldwide promotional activities.
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“A new milestone has been achieved for the expansion of our team, opening new opportunities in both India and Singapore. We look forward to consolidating our presence in multiple regions as we progress in 2025 and 2026,” said AFA President, Claudio Fabian Tapia.
The association’s Chief Commercial and Marketing Officer, Leandro Petersen, stated that this endeavour forms part of their strategic vision to broaden their presence across significant international markets.
“This is a new step in AFA’s global expansion. Since 2021, we have identified key opportunities in India and have built a strong connection with the local football community. Our goal is to continue strengthening these relationships while bringing the best of Argentine football to fans,” Petersen stated.
Before the upcoming visit in six months’ time, Messi had visited India in 2011 when Argentina played a World Cup qualification game against Venezuela at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium.