# Free India-Uruguay tickets for Messi Tour victims

> West Bengal offers free tickets to India-Uruguay match for fans who missed Messi's chaotic Kolkata visit.
- Title: Free India-Uruguay tickets for Messi Tour victims · Sportstar
- Summary: West Bengal offers free tickets to India-Uruguay match for fans who missed Messi's chaotic Kolkata visit. West Bengal will provide free tickets for 22,000…
- Keywords: west bengal, india, uruguay, messi, kolkata, football, odisha, hockey, suvendu adhikari, salt lake stadium, brazil, messi tour
- Source: Sportstar — https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/indian-football/india-vs-uruguay-free-tickets-messi-four-fiasco-victims-odisha-hockey-model-west-bengal-suvendu-adhikar/article71542889.ece
- Author: Neeladri Bhattacharjee
- Published: 2026-10-04T03:42:51+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: west bengal, india, uruguay, messi, kolkata, football, odisha, hockey, suvendu adhikari, salt lake stadium, brazil, messi tour
## Messi Tour Fiasco
Lionel Messi's visit to Kolkata was cut short, leaving 22,000 fans disappointed.

> Lionel Messi’s visit to Kolkata last year was cut short, prompting anger from disappointed fans
## Free Tickets Announcement
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced free tickets for India-Uruguay match on October 6.

> West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday announced free tickets for the India-Uruguay international on October 6
## Ticket Distribution Plan
22,000 fans who missed Messi's event will collect tickets via WhatsApp number.

> we (the West Bengal Government) will announce a WhatsApp number through which they can collect their free tickets
## Stadium Attendance Context
India's friendly against Brazil at Salt Lake Stadium drew 51,000 fans below capacity of 85,000.

> an attendance of just over 51,000, well below the stadium’s capacity of 85,000
## Odisha Hockey Model
West Bengal plans to adopt Odisha's hockey development model for Indian football.

> we should think of doing so in football. Football means Kolkata, and vice versa
## Football Development Plan
Odisha's hockey success includes infrastructure, partnerships and grassroots development for Indian football.

> Odisha became the official team partner for India’s men’s and women’s hockey team in 2018
## Next Steps
West Bengal government needs cabinet approval for football support before implementation.

> any decision on the support will need the cabinet’s approval and cannot be his alone
## Key takeaway

West Bengal will provide free tickets for 22,000 fans who missed Lionel Messi's interrupted tour of India to watch the October 6 match against Uruguay.