Argentina fans in Kerala village set up floating stadium with squad cutouts in river

Argentina fans in Kerala village set up floating stadium with squad cutouts in river

Mangalore Today News Network

Kozhikode, Jun 13, 2026: A floating stadium in the middle of a river in Kerala, complete with cutouts of the entire Argentine football squad, has become the latest symbol of the state’s enduring football passion. Contrary to initial impressions, the South American team has not arrived in Kerala; the structure is a creative installation built by football enthusiasts in Pullavoor village near Kozhikode.

As excitement builds ahead of the FIFA World Cup, football fever has swept across Kerala. Roadsides and villages are adorned with posters, flex boards and giant cutouts of stars such as Lionel Messi and Neymar, while homes have been painted in the colours of favourite teams including Argentina, Brazil and Portugal.

In Pullavoor, Argentina supporters have taken their admiration a step further by constructing a miniature football stadium on a floating platform anchored in the river. The installation, mounted on boats, features life-sized cutouts of the entire Argentine squad.

പുല്ലാവൂർ പുഴയിൽ ഫ്ലോട്ടിങ് കട്ട്ഔട്ട് ഒരുക്കി അർജന്റീന ആരാധകർ 🇦🇷😍💥 pic.twitter.com/poKl0BgFLv

— Adorn Rodrigues (@rodrigues_adorn) June 12, 2026

The creators of the float expressed confidence that Argentina would once again lift the World Cup trophy. Television visuals showed children and adults visiting the attraction, walking across the platform and posing for photographs and selfies.

According to the organisers, the floating structure has been designed to withstand strong winds, heavy rainfall and fluctuations in the river’s water level, ensuring that it remains stable and safe.

The unique attraction has drawn large crowds to the nearby bridge, where onlookers gather daily to catch a glimpse of the floating stadium.

Pullavoor had previously gained international attention during the last World Cup when fans of Argentina, Brazil and Portugal installed giant cutouts of Lionel Messi, Neymar Jr and Cristiano Ronaldo on a small islet in the river. The friendly rivalry between supporters of the three teams, marked by increasingly elaborate displays, captured the imagination of football fans around the world.