The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has selected Bhubaneswar and Guwahati as the venues for India’s first two home matches in the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup 2027 Preliminary Joint Qualification Round 2.
India, placed in Group A alongside Qatar, Kuwait, and the winners of the Preliminary Joint Qualification Round 1 fixture between Afghanistan and Mongolia, kicks off their campaign with an away game in Kuwait on November 16, 2023. They will then host Qatar at Bhubaneswar’s Kalinga Stadium on November 21, 2023.
In 2024, India will play back-to-back matches against Afghanistan or Mongolia, with an away fixture on March 21, 2024, followed by the home leg at Guwahati’s Indira Gandhi Stadium on March 26, 2024.
AIFF Secretary General Dr. Shaji Prabhakaran said, after the announcement, “We would like to congratulate Football Association of Odisha and Assam Football Association on successfully bidding for the hosting rights of the aforementioned matches, and wish all the success for delivering the said matches at a world-class level with the support from the respective state governments.”
The host for India’s home leg against Kuwait on June 6, 2024, is yet to be confirmed. These venue selections showcase India’s footballing ambitions and set the stage for an exciting journey towards international success.
