"The Israeli Embassy regrets to announce the suspension of the match between the national team of Israel and Argentina... The threats and provocations directed at Lionel Messi... are not alien to the daily life of the civilian population in Israel, whose athletes... have been numerous times an object of violence and attacks," the Israeli Embassy posted on Twitter.

The match was to take place at Jerusalem's Teddy Stadium, which was built on the site where a Palestinian village had been situated before it was destroyed by Israeli forces in 1948 during the Arab-Israeli war.

Earlier, Palestinian Football Association Chief Jibril Rajoub called on fans to target Messi personally and to "burn his picture and his shirt" if he played in the match.

Two-time champions Argentina will face Iceland, Croatia and Nigeria in Group D at the 2018 FIFA World Cup to be held in Russia from June 14 to July 15.