AIFF narrow down on Kalinga Stadium for India-Qatar clash
AIFF
After screening through many options, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has zoomed into the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, which would be hosting India's clash against Asian champions Qatar in March next year. India have garnered one point from their first two World Cup qualifier matches.
Several states had thrown their hat into the ring in order to get a chance to host the FIFA World Cup qualifiers. However, after India saw their opening clash of the World Cup 2022 qualifier played in Guwahati and Kolkata being selected to host their clash against Bangladesh on October 15, the biggest home game of the qualifiers would be taking place in Odisha after AIFF reached an agreement with them.
"We have an understanding with the Odisha government and they are very keen to host this match. It's a good venue. We have no reason to deny them the opportunity," a senior AIFF official said, reported TNN.
Kalinga Stadium has also been amongst the first venue to get the provisional nod to host the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup 2020.
The Kalinga Stadium has recently been announced as the home to new Indian Super League (ISL) franchise Odisha FC, which was formerly Delhi Dynamos FC. However, with the league finishing before the scheduled clash with the World Cup hosts on March 26, 2020, it wouldn’t be a problem for the officials.Â
Igor Stimac's boys have returned to India after grinding out a brilliant result against Qatar in their backyard after they held them to 0-0 draw at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium in Doha on Tuesday. India are fourth on the five-team group table with Bangladesh and Afghanistan their next opponents.
