6 months ago
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Lionel Messi's much-anticipated 'GOAT Tour to India 2025' conscionable got bigger with Hyderabad added arsenic the caller confederate limb halt to guarantee fans successful the portion are not "deprived" of seeing their idol pursuing the cancellation of Argentina's projected affable successful Kerala.
The determination to adhd Hyderabad comes successful the aftermath of the cancellation of Argentina's projected affable successful Kochi, which had been primitively announced by Kerala Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman for November 17.
The revised program present ensures Messi's 'GOAT Tour' volition span each 4 corners of India — eastbound (Kolkata), southbound (Hyderabad), westbound (Mumbai) and northbound (New Delhi) — turning it into 1 of the biggest sporting spectacles ever hosted successful the country.
"Now we are covering southbound also. This volition beryllium a tribute to millions of shot fans successful South India," Satadru Dutta, the sole organiser of the 'GOAT Tour to India 2025', told PTI on Saturday (November 1, 2025).
"With this, each portion of India is covered. West is covered done Mumbai, eastbound done Kolkata, northbound done Delhi. There is simply a immense Messi instrumentality basal successful Chennai, Kerala and Hyderabad," Dutta said.
"I wanted to marque it a pan-India lawsuit and present that the Kerala lawsuit is cancelled, southbound radical are getting deprived to spot Messi," helium said, adding that Hyderabad was chosen to springiness the portion its stock of Messi magic.
“South should besides get an vulnerability of Messi, truthful radical from southbound tin question to Hyderabad and ticker him. Booking for the Hyderabad lawsuit volition hap wrong a week. The lawsuit is confirmed and volition either beryllium held successful Gachibowli oregon Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium," Dutta confirmed.
He added that the Hyderabad limb volition not conscionable beryllium different stop, but a expansive celebration.
"It volition beryllium an hold of GOAT Cup arsenic determination volition beryllium a personage match, shot clinic, felicitation, philharmonic programme. All the superstars of southbound volition beryllium successful presence," helium revealed.
Dutta said helium has already held preliminary talks with section organisers successful Hyderabad and received beardown backing from them.
"We person had talks with my section partners. They (the Hyderabad section organisers) are helping and privation to bash it successful a large way. They are precise excited," helium said.
Giving details of the revised itinerary, Dutta said determination has been "a flimsy alteration" with the Ahmedabad limb present being replaced by Hyderabad. "The Ahmedabad sponsors lawsuit would present beryllium held successful Mumbai."
"Messi is landing astir midnight of December 12 oregon successful wee hours of December 13. From Miami, he's coming to Dubai wherever helium volition remainder for a time oregon two. Then helium would question to Kolkata via a backstage jet," helium said.
The Argentine superstar, who past visited India successful 2011 for a affable against Venezuela, volition beryllium joined by his long-time teammates and friends Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul, who person already confirmed their information successful the tour.
The GOAT Tour, conceptualised by Dutta, volition diagnostic a premix of personage shot matches, philharmonic events, meet-and-greet sessions, masterclasses for children and felicitation ceremonies crossed 4 cities.
Messi volition commencement his circuit successful Kolkata connected December 13, followed by Hyderabad the aforesaid evening, earlier travelling to Mumbai connected December 14 and concluding successful New Delhi connected December 15, wherever helium volition conscionable Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Kerala lucifer was aboriginal postponed to the adjacent FIFA model owed to delays successful obtaining indispensable clearances, starring to nationalist disappointment and governmental controversy.
The Kochi cancellation has near fans successful Kerala disheartened, but Dutta said helium was determined not to fto the confederate portion miss retired connected Messi's visit.
"I wanted to marque definite the radical of southbound India, particularly those successful Kerala, Chennai and Hyderabad, bash not consciousness deprived aft the cancellation. That's wherefore Hyderabad was the earthy choice. It's centrally located and has a immense instrumentality base," helium said.
The Hyderabad event, Dutta said, volition beryllium designed to showcase the passionateness of South Indian fans.
"It’s going to beryllium huge. The vigor successful Hyderabad is special, and with each the confederate stars coming together, it volition beryllium 1 of the astir memorable legs of the tour," helium promised.
Ticket income person witnessed a monolithic effect crossed venues.
In Mumbai, each 28,000 seats astatine the Wankhede Stadium, priced from ₹6,980, are already sold out, arsenic per ticketing portal district.in.
Kolkata's 68,000-capacity stadium is nearing afloat occupancy, with tickets starting astatine ₹4,366, portion successful New Delhi, wherever the Arun Jaitley Stadium tin accommodate 28,000 fans, prices statesman astatine ₹7,670 and it's besides adjacent to being sold out, Dutta said.
Revised Itinerary
Dec 12-13 (Kolkata): Arrival successful the midnight oregon aboriginal hours; Meet and greet astatine Hotel (9.30–10.40 a.m.); GOAT Cup astatine Salt Lake Stadium (11.30am–1.10 p.m.); Statue unveiling astatine Sreebhumi, Lake Lake Town; leaves for Hyderabad (2.15 p.m.).
Dec 13 (Hyderabad): Meet and greet (5 p.m.); GOAT Cup (7–8.45 p.m.) astatine either Rajiv Gandhi oregon Gachibowli Stadiums.
Dec 14 (Mumbai): Meet and greet astatine Hotel (12 noon); Padel GOAT Cup inauguration; GOAT Cup astatine Wankhede Stadium (5.30 p.m.).
Dec 15 (New Delhi): Meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi; GOAT Cup astatine Arun Jaitley Stadium (2.15 p.m.).
