Khel Now suggest two venues that should host India's friendly against Malaysia

India are yet to win any games this year.

The Indian football team will play their next international match against Malaysia on the 19th of November, 2024, during the FIFA international window. This will be the eleventh and last game of the year for the Blue Tigers. The Indian football team have not won a game this year, losing six and drawing four games.

In the last friendly game against the Vietnam national football team, they managed a gritty 1-1 draw against the Golden Star Warriors.

The new Indian head coach, Manolo Marquez, is still waiting for his first win with the national side. In his last three games, the team lost one against Syria and drew against Mauritius and Vietnam.

On November 16, 2011, India hosted Malaysia for the last time, winning 3-2 in an exciting match. Marquez will be hoping that history repeats itself and that the Blue Tigers can at least finish 2024 with a significant victory.

The venue for this match has not been confirmed yet, nor has the kick-off time. As per sources, the All-India Football Federation (AIFF) is looking at multiple venues. In this article, we will discuss the two potential venues for this match:

India vs Malaysia international friendly is scheduled for 19th November, but the venue is still not announced. Jamshedpur or Shillong are two deserving venues to host India's friendly match, and fans in both cities deserve to see the Indian team live. #Indianfootball

— Ashish Negi (@7negiashish) October 21, 2024

Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Shillong 

The Indian Super League announced recently that NorthEast United FC will play their last home matches at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Shillong, on 7th February, against Mumbai City FC, on 21st February, and Bengaluru FC and on 8th March against East Bengal FC, respectively.

The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium has undergone major renovations over the last two years. With an expected seating capacity of close to 30,000 and the current arrangements and progress of the work, the stadium is on track to meet FIFA standards, making the football field capable of hosting any international tournaments.

After a massive two-year renovation, the stadium was ready for football action just before the Durand Cup. Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, during a visit to the stadium in 2023, told the media that they expect a seating capacity of close to 30,000 and that with the current arrangements and the progress of the work, the stadium was on track to meet FIFA standards and could host any international tournaments.

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The nation witnessed an electric football atmosphere in the Durand Cup quarter-final and semi-final. Initially, the Durand Cup semifinal match was scheduled to be held in Kolkata.

However, after both teams, NorthEast United FC and Shillong Lajong FC, from the country’s Northeast region, qualified for the semifinal, the authorities decided to relocate the match to the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Shillong.

To accommodate the unprecedented demand, the Government of Meghalaya set up giant screens in five locations, ensuring that those who missed out on tickets could still experience the match The roar could tremble any opponents in the stadium.

JRD Tata Sports Complex, Jamshedpur   

The home stadium of Jamshedpur FC, “The JRD Tata Sports Complex Stadium,” can be the best option for the AIFF to arrange the last international game for the Indian football team. The complex is a multi-use stadium, primarily used for football.

The Steel City has several football enthusiasts who have been waiting to witness an international game for a long time. In 2006, São Paulo Football Club from Brazil and Mohammedan Sporting Club played a friendly game in this stadium. This year, the city also witnessed the successful conduction of the 133rd historic Durand Cup.

The stadium has one of the highest attendances in the Indian Super League. As per Transfermarkt, in the previous year of the Indian Super League, the stadium had the highest attendance, with an average of 14,996 per match. In the match against East Bengal, there were 20,257 attendees recorded.

As per media outlets, after the Jamshedpur FC franchise was announced, the stadium underwent massive renovation work worth around 40 crores.

The cheers of the Jamshedpur supporters will undoubtedly inspire the Indian players and end the national team’s winless streak.

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