- Address: Stadium Road, Kochi
- Country: India
- Capacity: 41,000
- Opened: 1996
- Main use: Football
- Tenants: Kerala Blasters (football)
Extra stadium info – Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium
The Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium, which is also known as the Kaloor International Stadium, was one of the six FIFA U-17 World Cup venues in 2017. Germany won the first-ever FIFA U-17 World Cup game at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium after defeating Guinea. Brazil won the second match of the tournament at the venue against Spain. 21,000 spectators showed up for the game. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and Niger also played group stage games at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium. The venue also hosted a round of 16 game between Brazil and Honduras and a quarter-final game between Iran and Spain for the football tournament.
The Indian Premier League
The stadium hosted matches of the former cricket club Kochi Tuskers Kerala. They were members of the Indian Premier League, the most popular cricket league in India. The Rajasthan Royals won the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League in 2008 after beating the Chennai Super Kings. The final of the 2008 Indian Premier League took place in Maharashtra.
The Kerala Blasters
The Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium is currently known as the home of the Kerala Blasters, the first sports club from Kerala with 1 million followers on its main social media page. The Blasters became the first football club from Kerala with a value of at least $10 million. Iain Hume, who played numerous games for the national football team of Canada, scored the first-ever Indian Super League goal for the Blasters. Hume started his professional football career with the Tranmere Rovers from the United Kingdom. He played various matches for the Blasters.
The Indian Super League and former players of the Blasters
The Kerala Blasters played in the inaugural final of the Indian Super League, which was played in front of 36,000 people. In 2015, the Blasters became the first Indian football club with an average home attendance for league games above 50,000, when they drew an average home attendance of 52,000 in their second Indian Super League season. In 2017, the Kerala Blasters signed Dimitar Berbatov, Paul Rachubka and Wesley Brown. They all played for Manchester United Football Club, one of the most famous sports clubs in the world. Berbatov and Brown both played over 100 matches for Manchester United. They also won various prestigious trophies with the club.
