The eagerly awaited international friendly match in November 2025, which will see Lionel Messi lead the FIFA World Cup-winning Argentina team in Kochi, Kerala, faces a pivotal decision regarding its venue’s capacity. The Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium at Kaloor will have its permissible seating determined only after a comprehensive assessment of its structural integrity and overall physical condition.
A critical safety audit is set to be jointly conducted by esteemed experts from IIT Palakkad, the Public Works Department (Buildings), and the Sports Kerala Foundation (SKF), an organization operating under the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs. The final decision on the stadium’s capacity will be based on the findings of this crucial audit.
The Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) has officially handed over the stadium to SKF to facilitate essential infrastructural enhancements, in collaboration with the event’s sponsors, ahead of the Argentina team’s much-anticipated visit.
In a recent statement, the event’s sponsors, Reporter Broadcasting Company, indicated that the stadium is being upgraded with the aim of accommodating 50,000 spectators. However, sources from both the PWD and SKF have clarified that the definitive seating capacity will only be finalized once the safety audit, which commenced with the arrival of IIT Palakkad experts on Friday, is complete. This rigorous inspection will follow a defined methodology, involving necessary tests to thoroughly assess structural stability and safety before any capacity figures are confirmed.
“Documentation from GCDA indicates that the structural and designed capacity of the stadium when it was originally built in 1996 was 55,000. While a structure typically boasts an economic lifespan of 60 to 70 years, this is heavily reliant on consistent and timely maintenance. We are refraining from making any premature judgments regarding whether the same capacity can be permitted nearly 30 years later,” stated sources from SKF.
Furthermore, PWD sources confirmed that for recent matches, the stadium’s seating capacity has been capped at 35,000.
Notably, during the FIFA Under-17 World Cup matches hosted at the stadium in 2017, the capacity was reduced from an initial plan of 55,000 to 42,000. This reduction occurred after FIFA raised concerns regarding the evacuation arrangements for the third tier, emphasizing that crowds must be evacuated within eight minutes in case of an emergency. FIFA deemed this unfeasible for the third tier, despite local organizers proposing the installation of 32,000 bucket seats across two of the stadium’s three tiers.
Pitch and Renovation Progress
Meanwhile, significant pitch improvement works are progressing in strict accordance with FIFA guidelines. External renovation efforts are also slated to begin shortly. As per government directives, all renovation expenses will be covered by the sponsors, who have indicated that works totaling ₹70 crore are currently in motion.
A multi-departmental meeting convened to review the arrangements concluded with a resolution to expedite all necessary preparations. “Parking has been identified as a significant challenge, particularly given the anticipated movement of VVIPs. A decision has been made to identify all potential parking areas both within and surrounding the stadium. Enhanced security measures will also be implemented, featuring both outer and inner boundaries,” SKF sources added.
Ticket Price Announcement Soon
In their statement, the sponsors confirmed that official ticket prices for the match would be announced this week, dismissing any currently circulating fares as “fake.”