West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari offers free India-Uruguay tickets to 22,000 fans who missed Messi in Kolkata
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced that about 22,000 fans who missed Lionel Messi’s appearance in Kolkata last year will receive free tickets to India’s international friendly with Uruguay at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on October 6. The offer was disclosed by Adhikari following India’s recent fixture against Brazil.
Lionel Messi’s Kolkata stop on the GOAT India Tour last year drew heavy criticism after he spent around 15 minutes at the VYBK Stadium and a large section of ticket-paying fans missed out as he was surrounded by politicians, security and VIPs. The situation turned chaotic when spectators invaded the ground and threw bottles and chairs, damaging the stadium drastically. The announcement has been framed as a way to give those ticket-holders another opportunity to attend a major international match at the same venue, and officials are expected to provide further details shortly.
Adhikari made the announcement after India’s 0-4 defeat against Brazil at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan last night, a match that attracted 51,402 spectators. He said the free-ticket plan will be coordinated by the state government.
“I want to convey this through the media to the people who missed out on the Messi event, some 22,000 of them — we (the West Bengal Government) will announce a WhatsApp number through which they can collect their free tickets for the Uruguay match (on October 6).”
“I would ask them to come and watch the match. You will be able to watch a good match in a disciplined manner. They will also be able to return home by metro or by buses of West Bengal Transport Corporation, which will also run late into the night,” added Suvendu Adhikari. Fans who attended Messi’s Kolkata GOAT Tour and were affected by the issues surrounding his appearance are expected to be eligible.
The India vs Uruguay clash is scheduled for Tuesday, 6 October 2026 at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, Kolkata, with a 7:30 PM IST kick-off. The match will be shown live on Sony Sports Ten 2 SD & HD and Sony Aath SD & HD (Bengali), and will be available to stream on Sony LIV.
The West Bengal government is expected to communicate very shortly with the fans who purchased the Messi GOAT India Tour tickets for Kolkata, with further details, including a WhatsApp number, for collecting the complimentary tickets.
