Shillong, Feb 11: Football fever is set to grip Shillong as the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has confirmed that the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium will host two high-profile international matches in March.
The first is a FIFA international friendly against the Maldives on March 19, followed by a crucial AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifier against Bangladesh on March 25.The matches are scheduled to kick off at 7 PM on their respective dates, as announced on the AIFF’s official website.
An inspection of the JN Stadium and the training facilities at the North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) campus was conducted last month by an Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Match Commissioner, who found both venues to be largely satisfactory for international fixtures.
India, placed in Group C of the AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers final round, will face Hong Kong, Singapore, and Bangladesh in a home-and-away round-robin format that will continue until March 2026. The team that tops the group will secure a coveted spot in the Asian Cup.
This marks a significant milestone for Shillong as the JN Stadium will host senior men’s international matches for the first time since its refurbishment last year.
The 15,100-capacity venue has been an active hub for domestic football, hosting games during the Durand Cup in 2023 and an Indian Super League (ISL) match just last week.
Before its renovation, the stadium, with its artificial turf, had been a familiar venue for I-League matches over multiple seasons. It also hosted the final rounds of the Indian Women’s League and AIFF’s U-18 Youth League in 2018, as well as the women’s football tournament during the 2016 South Asian Games.
The return of international football to Shillong is expected to draw large crowds, bringing excitement to the city’s passionate football fans and adding a fresh chapter to Meghalaya’s rich sporting history.
