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Pros and cons of possible venues for India’s World Cup Qualifiers

Published at :July 28, 2019 at 2:19 AM
Modified at :July 28, 2019 at 2:19 AM
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Punit Tripathi


Four stadiums are in the fray to host the Blue Tigers' home games in the second round of matches.

The Indian football team were drawn in a mixed group featuring Qatar, Oman, Afghanistan and Bangladesh for the Round 2 of World Cup qualifiers that will start with India hosting Oman on September 5.  If India are to earn a chance to go to Round 3, they must look to earn a point, or if possible three, in their two games against the Central Asian countries.

Against the SAARC nations, the Blue Tigers are expected to clear the hurdle both home and away.

According to several reports, Guwahati and Kolkata have been doing the rounds to be the hosts for the opening couple of games. Bangladesh, India’s next home game after Oman, will take place on October 15.

According to sources in the All India Football Federation, Guwahati’s Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium is the frontrunner to host the game against Oman, subject to inspection from AFC officials. The second game against Bangladesh could be given to the Yuva Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium) in Kolkata.

The Mumbai Football Arena, one of AIFF’s more trusted venues in recent times, can be used as a fallback option, while Gujarat’s TransStadia, that recently hosted the Intercontinental Cup, can also stand an outside chance.

Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium

The game against Bangladesh will not be hosted by Guwahati because the National Register of Citizens’ issue has under its purview a lot of Bangladeshi immigrants, and thus, it may create an unrest. The first game, though, against Oman, should have no such bearing.

Oman’s weather, on an average, is subtropical dry, hot desert climate and low annual rainfall and Guwahati is massively different in this regard. Such home advantages have been time and again used in International games and there is nothing wrong in trying to add an extra element of hurdle for the visiting team. During September, the weather can be expected to be mostly cloudy with some outbursts of rain, that will make the weather humid, something that may disturb the Oman players.

The last time India played at this venue, they defeated Laos 6-1 in an Asian Cup qualifier, with Jeje Lalpekhlua earning a brace. Several other players had also got on the scoresheet.

The stadium has been NorthEast United FC’s home since 2014 and has a seating capacity of around 24,000. In the last eight years, the Blue Tigers has not lost any game at the venue, winning twice and drawing once against Malaysia. Will the luck smile again?

Salt Lake Stadium

Bangladesh is topographically too close and thus, similar to India to be affected by such strategic difficulties. There’s a different, psychological pressure, though. The ‘Ghoti’ or ‘Bangal’ debate is still rife and Kolkata never disappoints when it comes to football. The AIFF must be hoping that the trend must continue.

The 85,000 seater arena is one of the biggest and most historic places to host a football game in Asia’s history. The stadium has seen Lionel Messi, Beto, Bebeto and Oliver Kahn perform. Kahn even had his farewell game at the venue, such is the charm of the historical podium. Beating the home side in front of the cheering 80,000-odd Indian fan support would be a tough, tough nut to crack for Bangladesh. And moreover, in the heart of India’s footballing capital that still gets excited and celebrates a rivalry in the most positive of ways.

Mumbai Football Arena

If things do not go right for the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium during inspection, AIFF’s most trusted fall-back action could be called into action again. Mumbai Football Arena, that hosted the Intercontinental Cup last year, saw a full house after Sunil Chhetri’s appeal, and the numbers have not plummeted.

India defeated Kenya 2-0 in the final of the same, the last national team game played at the venue. The stadium, which hosts just 8,000 people at one time, saw Rahul Bheke score late into the game to hand Bengaluru FC their first Indian Super League victory - their first. Interestingly, Bheke was born in Mumbai and is a local.

Prior to this, India had defeated Puerto Rico 4-1 in an international friendly, the first time the ground had hosted a game of that level in 61 years. Aditya Thackeray can be credited with playing a key role in the re-development of the stadium.

The weather, here, will be humid and Oman can be tested in such conditions if our players are ready to exchange some extra sweat for sweet victory. High pressing and quick interchanging passing can do the job for India. 

EKA Arena by TransStadia

The stadium was host to the Hero Intercontinental Cup 2019

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If every stadium in India has an issue, there will still be one that’ll stand strongly on its base - the TransStadia. Based in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, it is a state-of-art theatre to witness the beautiful game with no tracks surrounding the playing area, giving the fans an edge-of-the-scene experience. 

It has a capacity of 20,000 people and recently hosted the Intercontinental Cup championship and proved to the nation that it isn’t a cricket state. The weather, here, will be slightly conducive for Oman, but it remains to be seen whether in gets a chance or not. 

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