The magic of the World Cup was alive and wild! Argentina and Egypt went head-to-head In a thrilling round of 16 fight, which the former won in thrilling fashion, Enzo Fernandez took the title in stoppage time.
In Atlanta, the stadium erupted with cheers. But the real fun was at 14,010 km Hyderabadwhere children from welfare schools in the city joined the Chief Minister Revanth ReddyWatched every twist and turn on a giant screen and cheered as if they were right on the field.
L Rishi Bharat, a class 10 student of Telangana Social Welfare Residential School and Junior College (TGWREIS), Sheikhpet, told The Indian Express that it was a pleasant experience: “Staying up so late at night and watching Lionel Messi play with us in this kind of atmosphere with the Chief Minister sir, is unforgettable.”
A huge LED screen was installed in the auditorium for the game. A total of 200 students attended the screening.
A lasting inspiration
For Bharat, who is also a handball player, a regular day at school starts at 5 am and ends at his hostel at 9:30 pm “But the match was so good that we didn’t feel stressed at all,” he said.
“Even those who started sleeping woke up in the second half after the turn of the match,” said K Hari Kishan, head of the physical department at the facility.
Children of Kalyan School watching the Argentina vs Egypt match with Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy. (Special arrangement)
Although India’s favorite footballer, Neymar Jr. was not in action, he and his friends showed full loyalty to Messi’s Argentina. “There was a lot of tension between us friends; we kept discussing what was happening and what could happen next. We thought the Egyptian players committed some fouls that the referee didn’t call. We were disappointed, but eventually everything changed in the last 10 minutes… We were all happy with the result.”
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By the time the game was over, the students returned to their residences, clocks striking 1:30 a.m., but they weren’t worried about logistics. “The government has provided us with two buses to accommodate the 100 students we have selected. We have selected students who play sports in the school. We have brought four teachers,” said school principal K Bala Swamy.
“Hospitality was top notch…,” Kishan said. “The children were served two snacks during the game and water bottles were provided regularly.”
Kishan believed that such activities would inspire children to participate in more sports. “Incidents like this inspire you as a kid… not only the students who are there and playing sports, but others who are not there will start choosing… There were about 200-300 students who were telling me they would come, but the government had only chosen 100 from our school so it was difficult for me to choose,” he said.
“Some of them will now get up early and start working on the ground. They will want to impress me, I can pick them if the opportunity comes again”, he laughed.
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However, school facilities are a challenge. “Children love football in our school, but there is always only one field available and it is a bit small; that is our problem,” Kishan said.
“This is the ground where students practice kho-kho, handball, kabaddi and volleyball. We have produced players who compete at the national level while practicing here,” he added.
Midnight magic
Messi visited Hyderabad on December 13 as part of his GOAT India tour in 2025. An official statement from the Telangana government on Tuesday said, “In connection with Lionel Messi’s visit to Hyderabad and invigorating the sports sector, the match between the teams of Argentina and Egypt was witnessed at the Atlanta Stadium through a special arrangement.”
“It is well known that Messi, to inspire students and sports fans, walked the entire ground of the Uppal Stadium and filled everyone with enthusiasm,” it added.
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Children of Kalyan School watching the Argentina vs Egypt match with Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy. (Special arrangement)
Revanth Reddy, an ardent football supporter, said, “It was a wonderful experience to witness one of the greatest icons of football, Lionel Messi, compete with young football lovers.”
He said, “Our government is committed to fostering a vibrant sports culture in Telangana. We will continue to create opportunities, strengthen sports infrastructure and encourage our students to embrace football and excel at the global level.”
Argentina will face Switzerland in the quarterfinals on July 11; However, Kishan says there was no information yet about the screening of that game, which is at 6:30 am IST.