Where to Watch Messi's Farewell: Argentina vs Benin Worldwide Guide

Lionel Messi's final Argentina match against Benin kicks off at 20:00 local time on Tuesday 6 October — here is where to watch and stream the farewell live around the world.

When and where the farewell kicks off

Lionel Messi will put on the Argentina shirt for the final time on Tuesday 6 October at the Estadio Más Monumental in Buenos Aires, with kickoff scheduled for 20:00 local time. That translates to 7pm ET in the United States, 1am BST on Wednesday in the UK, and 4:30am IST on Wednesday in India.

Because the match is a FIFA international friendly, broadcast rights are sold territory by territory rather than by a single global holder. Here is the confirmed picture around the world as of matchday.

Americas: ViX, TUDN, Telefe and free-to-air in Argentina

In the United States, Spanish-language coverage is reported on ViX and TUDN platforms, with broadcast listings also naming Prime Video — NBC Sports lists ViX and Prime Video as the US streaming options. Kickoff is 7pm ET on Tuesday.

In Argentina, the farewell is being shown on free-to-air television, meaning every fan in the home country has access to the fixture. Brazilian viewers can tune in via Ge TV, while Honduran fans have Canal 11's coverage. See our individual guides for full details on where to watch Argentina vs Benin live.

Europe: Movistar Plus, Premier Sports and more

In Spain, Movistar Plus holds exclusive rights to broadcast the match live. In the UK and Ireland, Premier Sports 2 will show the farewell, with coverage getting underway at midnight UK time ahead of a 1am kickoff; a Premier Sports subscription starts at £13.99 per month and the match can be watched via the Premier Sports website or app.

Germany and Japan have DAZN coverage, France has L'Équipe Live Foot, and Russia's Match TV will air the game live at 01:55 MSK on 7 October, with repeats on Match! Football 3.

India's Messi moment on ZEE5

For Indian fans, Messi's farewell will not be on television — but ZEE5 has secured streaming rights, with the match starting at 4:30am IST on Wednesday 7 October. The platform has been expanding its football portfolio, which already includes FIFA tournaments, the Bundesliga, Italian Serie A, the Supercoppa Italiana and Coppa Italia, and the Benin friendly becomes another marquee addition.

Speaking about the announcement, Bavesh Janavlekar, Chief Business Officer at Unite8 Sports, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd., said moments like Messi's farewell carry a significance that extends well beyond the game itself, calling it a chance to witness the closing chapter of an extraordinary international career as part of the platform's growing sports streaming offering for Indian audiences.

With Messi's enormous following in India, the 4:30am start is expected to draw one of the biggest football streaming audiences the country has seen for an international friendly.

Asia, Oceania and MENA: ZEE5, beIN and beyond

The match will not be broadcast live on television in India, but fans can stream Messi's final international appearance on ZEE5, which has added the friendly to its growing football portfolio.

In Australia and New Zealand, beIN Sports carries the game, including through beIN Sports CONNECT and — in Australia — Amazon Prime Video and Fetch TV. Across the Middle East and North Africa, beIN Sports also holds the rights, and Nepal's Kantipur Max will screen the farewell.

• Argentina: free-to-air TV
• USA: ViX, TUDN platforms, Prime Video (per listings)
• UK & Ireland: Premier Sports 2 (12am coverage, 1am kickoff)
• Spain: Movistar Plus (exclusive)
• India: ZEE5 streaming, 4:30am IST
• Australia & NZ: beIN Sports, CONNECT, Prime Video, Fetch TV
• MENA: beIN Sports
• Germany & Japan: DAZN
• France: L'Équipe Live Foot
• Russia: Match TV, 01:55 MSK
• Nepal: Kantipur Max
• Brazil: Ge TV
• Honduras: Canal 11

One night only

This is a one-off occasion: Messi's 208th and final Argentina appearance, the first-ever senior meeting between Argentina and Benin, and a sold-out 85,000-strong farewell at the Monumental. If your country is not on the list above, check our TV channel guide for the latest confirmed broadcasters — and set an alarm: at 4:30am in India and 1am in the UK, this one is worth it.

USA and UK kickoff times

American viewers face a friendly start time: 7pm ET on Tuesday evening, with Spanish-language coverage reported on ViX and TUDN platforms. NBC Sports also lists Prime Video among the US streaming options for the farewell, making it one of the most accessible Argentina friendlies for American audiences in years.

British and Irish fans have it harder: coverage on Premier Sports 2 begins at midnight, with kickoff at 1am on Wednesday. Premier Sports subscriptions start at £13.99 per month, and the match is available through the Premier Sports website and app. For Messi's final bow in the Albiceleste, supporters on both sides of the Atlantic will tell you it is worth the late night.

Fans in Australia and New Zealand can watch on beIN Sports, including through beIN Sports CONNECT and — in Australia — Amazon Prime Video and Fetch TV, with kickoff at a civilised 10am AEDT on Wednesday.

What the Monumental will look like

While the world watches on screens, 85,000 supporters will be inside River Plate's home ground after tickets sold out in under two hours. The AFA has planned the evening as a full celebration rather than a normal friendly: tributes, videos and emotional moments are expected before, during and after the match, with members of the 2022 World Cup-winning squad and their families joining Messi on the night.

A special commemorative Argentina jersey has been created for the occasion, and the 2022 champions in attendance — including Ángel Di María, who retired from international duty in 2024 — will be part of the on-pitch tributes. For the Benin players, it is a once-in-a-lifetime stage: goalkeeper Marcel Dandjinou has promised his side will not be tourists in Buenos Aires.

It all builds toward the moment the teams walk out at 20:00 local time: the 208th cap, the first-ever senior meeting between Argentina and Benin, and the end of the most decorated international career in Argentine history.

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