Gone are the days when Cricket was the only sport in India. With the rise of ISL, the number of football stadiums in India & the increasing fan base for the game. Indian football is starting to dream again. India hosted the 2017 U-17 FIFA World and will once be the host for the 2020 U-17 FIFA Women’s World Cup. If that doesn’t show India’s progress in India, what will? And for the FIFA tournaments, international games, ISL, and several domestic games, the Government of India has worked wonders to provide the best possible football grounds.
Here is the complete list of the 10 best football stadiums in India:
10. Biggest football stadium in India: Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata
Salt Lake Stadium or officially, Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK) in Kolkata is without a doubt the most iconic football stadium in India. Built in 1984, Salt Lake was the largest football stadium in the world until 1989. The stadium’s record attendance of 131,781 came in 1997 during a Federation Cup semi-final between Mohun Bagan and East Bengal. Currently, it is the biggest football stadium in India. Although Salt Lake’s capacity came down to 85,000 after the renovation in 2011, the Stadium has witnessed some of the great moments in Indian football history. The final of the 2017 U17 World, first-ever FIFA tournament hosted in India was played at the Salt Lake Stadium. Some of the soccer world’s legendary names like Lionel Messi and Oliver Kahn have also graced the stadium. The Blues Tigers have also played many important games in this stadium.
The stadium is currently the home of ATK in the Indian Super League and two of the biggest rivals in Indian football, Mohun Bagan and East Bengal of I-League. The massive capacity and iconic beauty of this beautiful football stadium in India make it the largest football stadium in India
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9. Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in the capital city is architecturally one of the most beautiful stadiums in India. It first opened in 1983 as a multipurpose sports stadium and was renovated in 2010 to meet the international standards of FIFA, AFC and IAAF. After the renovation, the stadium has the capacity of 60,000 people.
Like Salt Lake, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium has also played a part in Indian football’s history. The stadium witnessed an exhibition game between India and Bayern Munich in 2012. Although India lost the game 0-3, many will remember the game as the farewell game of the Indian legend, Baichung Bhutia.
8. Mumbai Football Arena, Football Stadium Mumbai
Built in 1988, The Mumbai Football Arena was renovated in 2016 and has quickly become one of the best football stadiums in India. After the renovation, the stadium hosted India’s FIFA international friendly against Puerto Rico on 3rd September 2016. India won the game 4-1 in what was the first international friendly played in Mumbai in 61 years.
7. Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kochi
Known as the noisiest football stadium in India, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium is the proof of football’s growth in India. Built in 1996, the stadium was used for both Cricket and Football. But with the increasing fan base for the Kerala Blasters in ISL, it has become a football-dedicated stadium in the past few years.
The Kochi-based stadium was renovated in 2008, and its architecture creates an amazing atmosphere during the games. It has the capacity of 80,000 which comes down to 40,000 during ISL games. 2kW floodlights, which provide lighting levels for HD telecast, is another unique feature of the stadium.
6. Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex, Pune
The state-of-the-art football stadium in Pune is a part of the multi-purpose sports complex. The sports complex was built in 1994 and was renovated in 2007 for the next year’s Commonwealth Youth Games. The stadium has the capacity of 11,900 which turns into the Orange Army during FC Pune City’s home games during the ISL. Even outside ISL, the stadium has the rich footballing history, being the home of Air India football team, Mumbai FC (I-League) and Bharat FC (I-League, defunct) in the past. It is also the home of DSK Shivajians F.C. in I-League.
The Indian football team has also played a few games here. In the team’s first game at the stadium, the Blue Tigers won 3-1 against Vietnam.
5. Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bengaluru
Sree Kanteerava Stadium is the home of the ISL champions Bengaluru FC. With the support of West Block Blues, the great fan base of Bengaluru FC, you would find it difficult to differentiate the stadium from most of the European football stadiums.
Built in 1997, the multi-purpose stadium also has rock climbing walls, a running track, and a volleyball court. The stadium has the capacity of 25,000 people which turns blue during ISL games.
4. Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai
Yet another stadium named after India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium is the home of two-time ISL champions Chennaiyin FC. Along with football, the multi-purpose stadium also hosts volleyball, basketball, table tennis and Kabaddi. The stadium has the capacity of 27,877, but only 19,484 of them are opened during ISL games. The highest-scoring match of the ISL was played here with Chennai winning 5-1 against Mumbai City FC.
3. Fatorda Football Stadium, Goa
Fatorda Stadium, officially known as the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium has been the home of various football teams since 1989. The residents of Goa bring their carnival culture to the stadium every time the stadium hosts a football game. The stadium was renovated in 2014 as it became the home of FC Goa. It has the capacity of 25,000 people, which reduces to 18,600 during ISL games. During the 2007-08 I-League, Fatorda Stadium was the home of as much as four Goan clubs, Dempo S.C., Churchill Brothers S.C., Salgaocar S.C., and Sporting Clube de Goa. The stadium hosted several matches during the 2017 U-17 FIFA World Cup.
2. JRD Tata Sports Complex, Jamshedpur
JRD Tata Sports Complex became one of the finest football stadiums in India after its renovation in 2017. The renovation cost for the stadium was ₹400 million. But with state-of-the-art sports facilities, it was worth it. The stadium has the capacity of 25,000 people and is the home of Jamshedpur FC in ISL. It also houses a 32-years-old institute, the Tata Football Academy.
1. Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, Guwahati
North-East India, the home of Indian football, is represented in ISL by NorthEast United FC. The team plays their games at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati. Ready in 2007, the stadium has a total capacity of 35,000. But the full capacity came down to 23,850 before the start of the U-17 World Cup. In 2016, the game between NorthEast United and Chennaiyin FC witnessed the record crowd of 32,844. The stadium has also hosted the Blues Tigers on several occasions. India’s 6-1 win against Laos in 2016 came at Guwahati.
