Messi and Argentina No-Show for Singapore and India Exhibition Matches

When Argentina and global banking powerhouse HSBC announced exhibition matches in India and Singapore back in March 2025, football fans across Asia celebrated. The reigning World Cup and Copa America champions were finally coming to their region. But those matches never happened — and all signs point to them never materializing.

The high-profile partnership between HSBC and the Argentinian Football Association (AFA) promised October 2025 action in India and a first-quarter 2026 fixture in Singapore. AFA president Claudio Tapia spoke enthusiastically about "international expansion," while HSBC dangled exclusive customer perks, meet-and-greets, and premium fan experiences. It looked like a world-class commercial venture.

Instead, it became a case study in broken promises.

Repeated delays and radio silence

Rather than heading to India during the October 2025 FIFA international window, Argentina faced Venezuela and Puerto Rico — both matches played in the United States. The Kerala fixture was bumped to November 2025, then to March 2026, before vanishing entirely from the schedule. During that March window, Argentina instead hosted Mauritania and Zambia in Buenos Aires. As for Singapore's match? It simply disappeared without any official communication.

When The Straits Times reached out for comment, HSBC directed inquiries to the AFA. The AFA never responded despite two weeks of follow-up attempts. On HSBC's Facebook page, where the partnership was originally promoted, one fan asked whether Argentina were still coming. Another user replied simply: "no sound."

That unofficial exchange might be the closest thing to an official statement on the matter.

For supporters in Singapore and India who can't afford to travel to North America for next summer's World Cup or chase Messi around MLS stadiums, these friendlies represented a rare opportunity to witness the greatest player of his generation in person. That window has now effectively slammed shut. Singapore's National Stadium — the only venue capable of hosting such a high-profile match — shows no Argentina booking for any remaining 2026 FIFA windows.

A troubling track record

This isn't Argentina's first disappointment in the region. Back in 2017, they visited Singapore but left fans feeling cheated. Messi played in a victory over Brazil in Australia just four days earlier, then flew through Singapore en route home to prepare for his wedding. Supporters who paid up to S$188 watched a 6-0 thrashing of the home side — without the star attraction they'd paid to see.

The late-2025 India situation proved even more problematic. Messi did visit multiple Indian cities — Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and New Delhi — but as part of a promotional tour rather than for any actual football. The Kolkata event descended into mayhem when fans who'd paid 12,000 rupees felt shortchanged. They stormed the pitch, ripped out plastic seats, and hurled them in frustration. Messi departed after just 20 minutes of a planned hour-long appearance. While his other stops proceeded more smoothly, the reputational damage was done.

Legal consequences have now emerged. VID Music Group has launched lawsuits alleging fraud and breach of contract against Messi, the AFA, and sports executive Julian Marcos Kapelan. The legal filing accuses Messi of conspiring to lure VID into contracts "under false pretences" and negligent misrepresentation. The AFA faces breach of contract allegations related to the October 2025 US friendlies and two proposed June 2026 fixtures. These are substantial accusations that remain unresolved.

  • Argentina played Venezuela and Puerto Rico in the United States during October 2025 — not India as originally announced
  • The Kerala match was postponed multiple times before being quietly cancelled
  • Singapore's promised match received no official update and currently has no stadium booking
  • Argentina's pre-World Cup schedule for June 2026 is already confirmed: Honduras (June 6) and Iceland (June 9), both in the United States
  • The 2026 FIFA World Cup runs from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Canada, and Mexico

As the defending world champions and heavy tournament favourites, Argentina's on-field prospects for 2026 look excellent. Their odds reflect that status. However, the commercial operation surrounding the national team — the partnerships, the promises, the exhibition matches — appears increasingly problematic. For anyone with financial stakes in associated ventures, or those evaluating the AFA's reliability as a partner, the emerging pattern raises serious red flags.

"For those of us unable to travel to the Americas for the World Cup or to the US to watch Messi play for Inter Miami, this would have been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," said Jeffrey Ang, a 30-year-old Singapore-based fan. "Hopefully, they will honour their word and still come on a later date."

Based on the current evidence, that optimism appears misplaced.