NEW DELHI: The upcoming FIFA International break will see the India senior men's national team play the Hero Tri-Nation Friendly Tournament matches against Myanmar and the Kyrgyz Republic at the Khuman Lampak Stadium in the capital of Manipur, Imphal.
The games will take place during the March FIFA International Window. The matches will be played on March 22, 24, and 26.
This was announced by Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh in Imphal on Monday.
This will be the first time that the Indian national team will be playing in Imphal, as the All India Football Federation looks to spread the outreach of the beautiful game throughout the country, in line with its strategic roadmap, Vision 2047.
The venue for the games is the historic Khuman Lampak Stadium, which has over the years hosted many Hero I-League games and also group stage games of the Durand Cup in August 2022. Established in 1999, the stadium has a capacity of 35,000.
“Manipur is a state that has huge footballing potential and we hope that bringing international football here will provide a tremendous boost to local football and have a positive impact on Indian Football,” AIFF secretary general Shaji Prabhakaran said.
Biren Singh also requested the AIFF’s assistance in establishing a top-class academy in the state. “I would also like to request the AIFF for its assistance in establishing a football academy of global standards in Manipur, where we can nurture the talented boys and girls from the state and set their course for further development,” he said.
The Blue Tigers last played on home soil in June 2022, when they topped their group to secure qualification for the 2024 AFC Asian Cup, defeating Cambodia, Afghanistan, and Hong Kong. The upcoming friendlies will be part of a series of matches that India will play in the FIFA International windows to prepare for next year's Asian Cup.
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