AIFF shortlist Ranchi as venue for AFC Asian Cup qualifier between India & Hong Kong

AIFF is looking to take Indian football to “newer pockets” as they look to grow the game.

The Indian national football team is out of the race for the AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualification. Khalid Jamil’s side are fourth in Group C behind Singapore, Hong Kong, and Bangladesh. India have picked up just 2 points from their 5 games and are still seeking their first win in their group.

Hong Kong, on the other hand, are second in Group C with 8 points, three behind the leaders, Singapore. The Dragons still have a chance to qualify for the tournament if they beat India. However, they will only qualify if Bangladesh beat Singapore in their last group game.

While the game will be more about saving grace for the Blue Tigers, there is a chance that it may be played at a new venue. The AIFF have proposed to play the game in Ranchi as they look to take football to newer locations.

Will Ranchi host the Indian national football team?

The Birsa Munda Stadium in Ranchi is being considered for the game between India and Hong Kong on 31st March 2026. Boasting a capacity of close to 35,000, the stadium has never hosted the Indian football team before. It is primarily being used by the athletes in the region and is also used by the Jharkhand men’s and women’s football teams.

A senior AIFF official spoke to Times of India regarding the topic, affirming that Ranchi has been proposed as a venue for the AFC Asian Cup qualifier. He said, “In the last three years, we have taken Indian football to newer pockets where the enthusiasm has been terrific.”

“It’s better to give states that do not traditionally host ISL or I-League matches a chance, so that football can be expanded. Ranchi has a good football stadium, the government has made an invested but has not hosted a good football match.”

While hosting an International game in Ranchi, will certainly bring a lot of hope and ambition to young footballers in the region, it seems to be a challenging affair. The dressing rooms of the Birsa Munda Stadium are apparently not in the optimum condition and might need extensive work to meet AFC’s standards.

As per TOI, A senior match commisioner, deputed by the AFC, will inspect the venue in early Februrary and submit a detailed report to the governing body. Based on the final report, the decision would be made to give clearence to Ranchi’s stadium for hosting the AFC Asian Cup qualifier between India and Hong Kong.

Ranchi has impressed as a venue for Hockey!

The 2025-26 Women’s Hockey India League was entirely played in Rachi whereas a few matches of the Men’s Hockey India League were also played in the city this season. The turnout for both these events was decent, especially in the Women’s final as the spectators filled the stands and added to the atmosphere of the game.

Jamshedpur FC, who play their Indian Super League games in Jamshedpur, have always played in front of a healthy crowd at the JRD Tata Stadium. Just over 120-kms away, it won’t be surprising to see the people of Ranchi turn up and fill the stands if a high-profile football game in scheduled in their city.

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