Shillong: Football fans in Shillong are in for a treat as the city prepares to host back-to-back international fixtures.
India will play Maldives in a friendly match on March 19, and then face Bangladesh in an AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifier on March 25.
The Meghalaya Football Association (MFA) is making final preparations to host two major international football matches in the state capital.
There had been some uncertainty regarding the friendly match, but MFA General Secretary Sunesh Syiem and Vice-President Cliff Nongrum confirmed that the game will go ahead as planned.
“I was surprised to see that news because from the AIFF (All India Football Federation) there was no communication of that,” Syiem said
He said the AIFF had appointed a Match Commissioner for the friendly match and the Maldives team will arrive two days before the scheduled match.
The Jawaharlal Nehru (JN) Stadium in Shillong has received high praise, with AFC Match Commissioner Mindu Dorjee and Indian national team assistant coach Mahesh Gawali both hailing it as one of the best in India, and is now prepared to host the upcoming international matches.
The training ground on the NEHU campus does require some work to get it up to international standard and special machinery is on its way to Shillong to level the turf as it is undulating in parts, Nongrum stated.
The upcoming international matches mark the culmination of a remarkable year for Meghalaya in hosting high-caliber football events.
It began with the prestigious Durand Cup last summer, followed by three Indian Super League games, the third of which will take place on 8 March.
The state government’s decision to convert the JN Stadium’s artificial turf to natural grass and improve other facilities has helped attract top-tier football events.
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The Meghalaya Football Association (MFA) views these international matches as a significant opportunity to ignite the passion of local young footballers.
The Indian team will camp in Shillong for two weeks, with plans in place for them to engage with players from local football academies.
