India and Bangladesh to host Messi's Argentina

Argentina and Venezuela will meet in a 'South American derby' on 2 September 2011 at the Saltlake Stadium in Kolkata, India. Argentina will also fly across the sub-continent to play a friendly against Nigeria in the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, on 6 September.

"The Argentina Football Association has indeed signed a contract to bring in the full-strength squad including Messi and Carlos Tevez among others," said Bhaswar Goswami of the tour organisers, Celebrity Management Group. "The contract guarantees their participation," he added.

Observer Arunava Chaudhuri warns that the condition of the Saltlake Stadium could be a "stumbling block" to the event as it does not does not fulfill FIFA's minimum criteria. However new West Bengal Sports Minister Madan Mitra has guaranteed to bring the stadium up to the required standard, including changing rooms, toilets and media enclosure.

The Argentinians are set to arrive in Kolkata on 30 August to give them the time to attend a charity program, a gala dinner, a football clinic for children and an open public training session.