Hyderabad is preparing for one of its biggest football moments as Argentine great Lionel Messi is set to arrive in the city on Saturday evening for a private event at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Uppal. Messi is expected to land in Hyderabad at 4 pm from Kolkata. From the airport, he will head straight to Falaknuma Palace. After a short break, he will take part in a closed-door meet and greet with 100 selected fans. According to event sources, each photo session comes at a reported cost of ₹10 lakh per person. At 6.30 pm, Messi will leave for Uppal Stadium. The main programme begins at 7 pm with a football clinic. This will be followed by a 20-minute exhibition match featuring Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy. The entire programme is private and entry is limited to invited guests.
Match format and participants
The exhibition match will feature two teams led by Revanth Reddy and Messi, Singareni RR team led by Revanth Reddy, Messi’s team led by Lionel Messi his close associates Rodrigo and Luis Suarez will also take part. Organisers said both Messi and Revanth Reddy will step onto the field only during the final five minutes of the match. A special segment is scheduled at 7.30 pm. After the match, Messi and Revanth Reddy will jointly present the GOAT Trophy to the winning team. After the event, Messi will return to Falaknuma Palace for the night. He is scheduled to leave for Mumbai on Sunday morning.
Rahul Gandhi’s presence and reactions
The event has attracted attention beyond football. Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is also visiting Hyderabad to watch the match. Rahul Gandhi will travel from Delhi in a special aircraft and is expected to reach Hyderabad at 6.15 pm. He will take a green channel route to Falaknuma Palace, meet Messi, and then proceed to Uppal Stadium. He plans to watch the match between 7 pm and 8 pm. After that, he will attend the GOAT India Tour programme at the stadium before flying back to Delhi at 10.30 pm. At the same time, the event has sparked political criticism. BJP leaders have accused the state government of spending more than ₹100 crore of public funds on the programme. The party has also alleged misuse of Singareni funds and staged a protest near the Singareni office in Hyderabad. BJP floor leader Maheshwar Reddy took part in the protest.
Responding to the criticism, event chief coordinator Parvathi Reddy dismissed the allegations. She said corporate sponsorship for sports events is appropriate and defended Singareni’s involvement. She added that Messi’s visit helps bring international attention to football in India.
Traffic diversions and public advisory
With large crowds expected on December 13, Hyderabad Traffic Police have announced traffic restrictions across the city from 12 noon to 11.50 pm.
Key traffic diversions include
- Vehicles from Ghatkesar to Uppal will be diverted at the HMDA Bhagyath entrance towards Nagole and LB Nagar
- Vehicles from LB Nagar to Uppal should take a U-turn at Nagole Metro and proceed via Boduppal, Chengicherla, and Charlapally
- Traffic from Tarnaka to Uppal will be diverted at Habsiguda crossroads towards Nacharam, NFC, and Charlapally
- Vehicles from Ramanthapur to Uppal will be diverted at Street No. 8
- Vehicles coming from Warangal to Hyderabad will be diverted via ORR, Abdullapurmet, and LB Nagar
- Vehicles travelling from Hyderabad to Warangal via Uppal should use the LB Nagar, Hayathnagar, and ORR route
Police have warned of heavy traffic on Falaknuma–Uppal and Secunderabad–Uppal routes from 2 pm onwards.
Parking, entry rules, and security arrangements
Authorities have set up ten major parking zones for the event.
- Nine public parking areas within one kilometre of the stadium
- One parking area inside the stadium reserved for VVIP and VIP pass holders
Vehicles without valid passes will not be allowed beyond EK Minar and LG Godown checkpoints.
Public parking is available at Penguin, TGIALA, Little Flower Junior College, Municipal Ground on the Uppal–Habsiguda route, Jain Parking, Sand Adda, Modern Bakery, Eenadu Office, and Vasu Pharma on the Uppal–Ramanthapur route.
Rachakonda Police have deployed 2,500 personnel for security, traffic control, law and order, mounted patrols, Vajra units, and fire services. Authorities have installed 450 CCTV cameras around the stadium, parking areas, and checkpoints.
Gate No. 1 is reserved only for players and VVIPs. Spectators must enter through the gates mentioned on their tickets.
Ticketing rules and prohibited items
- Spectator entry begins at 4 pm
- QR codes allow only one-time entry
- A printed barcode pass will be issued after scanning
Police have warned of criminal cases against anyone attempting to enter without a valid pass.
Items not allowed inside the stadium include laptops, bags, water bottles, cameras, matchboxes, lighters, pens, helmets, perfumes, sharp objects, and binoculars. With international attention, high-profile political presence, and strict security in place, Hyderabad is set for a rare evening where football, administration, and public attention come together at one venue.
Posted on 13 December 1:45 PM IST
Mohammed Naseer Giyas is a multi-media and bilingual journalist with over 20 years of experience across print, digital, and television media. Founder of Raftaar-e-Deccan, he is an alumnus of IVLP, Thomson Reuters Foundation, and ICFJ, and has worked with leading English and Urdu news organisations.
