Mumbai Football Arena of the Andheri Sports Complex is currently India’s most notable football stadium. Location enables comfortable support from die-hard fans of the teams, just as the heart of Indian football, as it has already accommodated a series of international matches. But can it be the hub of Indian football?
A Proven International Venue
Mumbai football arena has been hosting internationally assigned matches of the Indian national team since 2016 and has been hosting major friendlies that include Puerto Rico, Mauritius, and St. Kitts & Nevis as part of the Hero Tri-Nation Football Series. Because of its sports culture and the zeal of the authorities in hosting such events, Mumbai received applause from the All-India Football Federation and thus became a natural hub for international matches.
The 2018-19 Indian Super League final was also played at the MFA, further cementing its status as a leading football stadium in India.
Home to Mumbai City FC
Mumbai City FC, one of India’s most successful teams in the ISL, calls the MFA its home. With an ardent fan following, the atmosphere during matches is electrifying. With the likes of Diego Forlán and Sunil Chhetri having played there, there certainly is no shortage when it comes to high-profile matches. After McClaren’s proud double of winning the League Winners’ Shield, MFA has established itself as a citadel of club football in India.
Infrastructure & Future Developments
Infrastructure possibly will be one of the most important factors in determining if MFA can harness the label of the football capital of India. The stadium is at a convenient distance from major transport hubs, like Andheri Railway Station and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.There is also discussion about upgrading the facility into a world-class venue. Reports suggest that MFA could become better equipped to hold international tournaments because of the extensive renovations scheduled for it. In such an eventuality, Mumbai could be a contender to vie for the spot of being the first-choice football venue in India against Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium.
Competition from Other Cities
While Mumbai is slowly gearing up, other Indian cities like Kolkata, Goa, and Bangalore also do have strong football cultures. Kolkata, in particular, has a deep-rooted history with football; for instance, Salt Lake Stadium is very massive and can accommodate over 85,000 fans. Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bangalore and Fatorda Stadium in Goa, too, host major international matches.
However, the one advantage that Mumbai has over the competition is in terms of corporate backing and international appeal. As India’s financial capital, it is the hub for attracting international sponsors and footballing partnerships. As such, if Mumbai is able to develop its footballing infrastructure for an even larger viewing audience, in due course, it should become India’s footballing city.
Conclusion
Mumbai Football Arena has already been ingrained as an arena for international and club football at the highest level. With a strong football culture to back it up, its wonderful infrastructure, and its passionate multicultural following, it has the potential of becoming the football capital of India. But for this to happen, investment in infrastructure and building international partnerships will remain high-priority tasks. If Mumbai can keep the pressures up like these, the dream of its stepping into India’s football hub may not be too far off.
