How to watch Argentina vs Benin live on Match TV in Russia
Russian fans can watch Lionel Messi's farewell live on Match TV: the official programme lists Argentina vs Benin as a live friendly in the early hours of Wednesday 7 October. Here is how to watch the last match of Messi's Argentina career in Russia.
Quick answer
Watch Argentina vs Benin live in Russia on Матч ТВ (Match TV) and Матч! Футбол 3 (Match! Football 3) in the early hours of Wednesday 7 October 2026. The official programme lists the friendly as a live broadcast from 01:55 MSK, with kickoff at 02:00 MSK (23:00 UTC Tuesday). Football 3 also repeats the match later on Wednesday at 08:00, 14:00 and 20:00.
The same night doubles as Lionel Messi’s farewell in the Argentina shirt — the first-ever meeting between Argentina and Benin, played at a sold-out Estadio Más Monumental in Buenos Aires. Argentina arrive in frightening form after Saturday’s 7-0 rout of Burkina Faso.
Which Match TV channel will show Argentina vs Benin?
Match TV (Матч ТВ), Russia’s federal sports channel, carries the friendly live on its main channel. The schedule shows the programme as “Футбол. Товарищеский матч. Аргентина - Бенин. Прямая трансляция” — football, friendly, live broadcast — in the 01:55 slot on Wednesday 7 October.
The same live feed runs simultaneously on Матч! Футбол 3 (Match! Football 3), the dedicated football channel, which is the one to keep if the main channel’s schedule shifts: Football 3 lists three further airings on Wednesday 7 October at 08:00, 14:00 and 20:00 MSK, so the 2:00 AM kickoff is not your only chance to see Messi’s last dance.
How to stream Argentina vs Benin on matchtv.ru
The match has a dedicated stream page on matchtv.ru — “Аргентина - Бенин. Товарищеский матч” — where Match TV’s online broadcast goes live ahead of the 01:55 slot. Match TV streams free on its website, so Russian viewers can watch in a browser without a subscription; the Match TV app carries the same feed on phones and smart TVs.
Open the stream page a few minutes before 01:55 MSK. If the listing ever moves between Match TV’s channels, the matchtv.ru TV guide shows the current slot in real time.
What time does Argentina vs Benin start in Russia?
Kickoff is Tuesday 6 October 2026 at 20:00 Buenos Aires time (ART, UTC-3), which is 23:00 UTC. Moscow is three hours ahead of UTC, so the match starts at 02:00 MSK on Wednesday 7 October in Russia.
Match TV’s broadcast block opens at 01:55 MSK, giving you five minutes of build-up before the whistle. The farewell ceremony at the Monumental starts earlier in the evening Buenos Aires time, so the pre-match window is worth the early alarm.
Is Argentina vs Benin free to watch on Match TV?
Yes. Match TV is Russia’s free-to-air federal sports channel, and the match also streams free on matchtv.ru. There is no paywall and no subscription needed to watch Messi’s farewell in Russia.
Stick to the official broadcast. Pirate streams for a marquee farewell are unreliable at best, and they tend to die exactly when Messi gets the ball.
Key takeaways
- Argentina vs Benin airs live in Russia on Match TV and Match! Football 3 in the early hours of Wednesday 7 October 2026.
- Live broadcast from 01:55 MSK; kickoff is 02:00 MSK (23:00 UTC).
- Stream free on matchtv.ru or the Match TV app.
- Football 3 repeats the match at 08:00, 14:00 and 20:00 MSK on 7 October.
Don't miss Messi's last dance
This is the final time Lionel Messi wears the Albiceleste — at a sold-out Monumental, against Benin, with his World Cup-winning teammates back to honour him. In Russia it is free on Match TV at 02:00 MSK, with three daytime repeats on Football 3 if the night is too early. Set the alarm, and check our full country-by-country TV guide if you will be watching from abroad. On the night, follow every goal on our live score page.
Questions people ask
What channel is Argentina vs Benin on in Russia?
Argentina vs Benin is on Матч ТВ (Match TV) and Матч! Футбол 3 (Match! Football 3) in Russia. Both channels show the friendly live from 01:55 MSK on Wednesday 7 October, and Football 3 repeats it at 08:00, 14:00 and 20:00 the same day.
Can I stream Argentina vs Benin on matchtv.ru?
Yes. The match has a dedicated broadcast page on matchtv.ru where the stream goes live ahead of the 01:55 MSK slot. Match TV’s web stream is free, and the Match TV app carries the same feed on phones and smart TVs.
What time does Argentina vs Benin start in Russia?
Kickoff is Tuesday 6 October at 20:00 in Buenos Aires (23:00 UTC), which is 02:00 MSK on Wednesday 7 October in Russia. The Match TV broadcast block starts at 01:55 MSK.
Is Argentina vs Benin free to watch in Russia?
Yes. Match TV is a free-to-air federal channel in Russia and streams free on matchtv.ru, so no subscription is needed to watch the farewell live.
Will there be a replay of Argentina vs Benin on Match TV?
Yes. Матч! Футбол 3 lists three repeats of the friendly on Wednesday 7 October, at 08:00, 14:00 and 20:00 MSK, so the 2:00 AM kickoff is not your only chance to see Messi's last Argentina match.
Is this really Messi's final Argentina match?
Yes. Messi retired from international football in August 2026 after 21 years, 207 caps and 125 goals. He was recalled solely for this friendly, which is also expected to be Nicolás Otamendi’s final international appearance.
All of our farewell coverage is on Argentina vs Benin Live stream.