Angola reportedly paid $12 million to host Argentina in November friendly match

Argentina will close out its 2025 international calendar with a long trip to Africa for its final FIFA international fixture of the year — a friendly against Angola, scheduled for November 14 in Luanda.

The match has drawn some criticism due to the perceived level of the opponent so close to the 2026 World Cup, but there’s a strong financial reason behind the decision to play it.

According to African outlets such as Sport News Africa, Angola agreed to pay an astonishing $12 million to host the world champions. Journalist Romain Molina reported that “several countries declined the opportunity because of the high appearance fees requested by Argentina, but Luanda accepted.”

“To host Argentina’s national team as part of the Independence Day celebrations during the November break, Angola will pay around $12 million,” Molina wrote on X.

For Angola, the motivation is clear — the rare opportunity to face Lionel Messi and Argentina’s world-class squad on home soil. The match is expected to generate major local interest, with the 48,000-seat stadium in Luanda likely to be sold out.

Currently, Angola sits 89th in the FIFA ranking, while Argentina is ranked 2nd, just behind Spain.