Although not as prominent as cricket, football has a substantial fan base and infrastructure in the country
India is identified as a country for its dominance in cricket. Over the ages, the state has achieved numerous world championships in cricket. However, the Asian country has done considerably well in several other sports such as hockey, kho-kho, the Olympics, F2 and football. Talking about football, there was an occasion when the world feared the Indian football team because of its outstanding goal-scoring abilities.
Sadly, the country focused better on cricket which rose the ranks and football fell behind. At present, populations from particular cities where football is more of a culture than a sport watch and track the game. In these cities, there are well-equipped football stadiums which every football fan must acknowledge in the country. If you are a hardcore Indian football fan, you must visit these stadiums once in your lifetime. As of now, read about these top football stadiums in the country.
Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium), Kolkata- Home to the ISL giants ATK Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, the Salt Lake Stadium is one of the oldest football stadiums in India. With a seating capacity of over 85,000, the Salt Lake stadium is one of the best biggest stadiums in the world.
EKA Arena, Gujrat- A new stadium in the country, the EKA Arena was opened in 2016 that offers a FIFA standard pitch with Bermuda grass at an elevation of 4.8-metres. The EKA Arena in Gujrat is India’s first convertible stadium that has a seating capacity of over 20,000 spectators.
Paljor Stadium, Gangtok- Not the best stadium in India but situated amidst the lofty mountains, this stadium offers a spectacular view to the crowd and the chilly weather makes it easier for the players to play the game. The stadium can hold 30,000 spectators and is the home ground of the United Sikkim Football Club.
Mumbai Football Arena, Mumbai- Home to the ISL’s Mumbai City Football Club, the stadium can hold 8,000 spectators. The stadium hosted the final match of ISL 2018-2019 and has also hosted the Intercontinental Cup in 2018. The stadium also hosted Mumbai’s first international match in 61 years between India and Puerto Rico.
Fatorda Stadium, Goa- Home to Churchill Brothers, Dempo, Salgaocar, Vasco, Sporting Goa and FC Goa; the Fatorda Stadium of Goa is a famous stadium that regularly hosts a number of tournaments such as the I-League, the Indian Super League and the FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
