Why Did India Decline the Opportunity to Host Lionel Messi-Led Argentina for a Game?

New Delhi: Argentina’s proposal to play a friendly soccer match against India has been declined by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) due to financial constraints. After their successful World Cup campaign, Argentina’s appearance fees skyrocketed to $4-5 million. They wanted to express gratitude to their Asian fans by playing two friendlies in India and Bangladesh, but both nations couldn’t secure the necessary funding on such short notice.

Shaji Prabhakaran, the secretary general of AIFF, explained that hosting a renowned team like Argentina comes with substantial costs. He emphasized the need for a robust partner to support the financial demands of Argentina. Given the economic constraints within Indian football, the AIFF has limitations in terms of its economic situation.

Argentina ended up playing against Australia and Indonesia instead. The team enjoyed immense support from Asian countries during the FIFA World Cup 2022 held in Qatar, and they wanted to reciprocate the support through friendly matches. Unfortunately, the financial challenges hindered the realization of these matches in India and Bangladesh.

While India’s football enthusiasts missed out on the opportunity to witness Lionel Messi and his team in action, the decision was made based on the economic realities and limitations faced by the AIFF.