Odisha stadium spruced up with state-of-the-art amenities for FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup

The
stadium
will
host
five
Group
A
matches,
in
which
four
countries
–
India,
the
US,
Morocco
and
Brazil
–
will
be
facing
each
other,
and
one
Group
B
match
between
Nigeria
and
Chile.

The
FIFA
U-17
Women’s
World
Cup
2022
will
kick
off
at
the
Kalinga
Stadium
from
Tuesday
(October
11)
with
an
opening
ceremony
and
two
matches.

Odisha
Sports
Secretary
Vineel
Krishna
said
the
administration
took
up
many
projects
to
upgrade
and
renovate
the
stadium,
including
the
entire
stand,
for
the
tournament,
which
will
go
on
till
October
30.

It
is
yet
another
feather
in
the
cap
for
Odisha
and
also
the
Kalinga
complex,
which
will
also
be
one
of
the
two
venues
in
the
state
where
Men’s
FIH
Hockey
World
Cup
will
be
held
next
year.

“A
main
pitch
and
four
practice
grounds
with
natural
grass
have
been
set
up
as
per
the
standards
of
the
world
football
governing
body
Fifa,”
Krishna
told
PTI.

Two
world-class
football
training
centres
–
Odisha
Football
Academy
and
the
Capital
Football
Arena
–
have
also
been
constructed
at
the
venue.

Krishna
said
the
seats
at
the
stadium
have
been
replaced
with
new
chairs,
but
the
seating
capacity
is
the
same
as
earlier
–
around
12,000.
The
lighting
system
has
been
fully
done
anew.
The
Bermuda
grass
of
the
field
has
been
imported,
according
to
the
sports
secretary.

“New
functional
areas
have
been
created.
VIP
boxes
and
dugouts
have
also
been
upgraded.
A
lot
of
the
renovation
has
been
done
in
phases
over
the
last
two-three
years,”
he
said,
estimating
that
the
overall
cost
could
be
around
Rs
90
crore.

Six
gates
are
expected
to
be
used
for
different
categories
of
spectators.
The
beautification,
wall
painting
and
cleaning
of
the
surroundings
were
also
taken
up
as
part
of
the
refurbishment
project,
Krishna
added.

The
multipurpose
venue,
built
in
1978,
has
facilities
for
athletics,
football,
hockey,
basketball,
tennis,
table
tennis,
volleyball,
climbing
and
swimming.

The
stadium
has
hosted
several
tournaments
and
is
also
the
home
venue
for
Odisha
FC
of
Indian
Super
League.
The
Fifa
tournament
was
supposed
to
be
held
in
India
in
2020,
but
got
postponed
due
to
the
coronavirus
pandemic.

The
hosting
rights
for
the
2022
edition
were
retained
by
the
country
on
the
basis
of
a
decision
of
the
global
federation.

Sixteen
teams
will
fight
for
the
top
honours
and
32
matches
will
be
played
across
three
venues
–
Bhubaneswar,
Navi
Mumbai
and
Goa.
The
final
will
be
played
at
the
DY
Patil
Stadium
in
Navi
Mumbai.

Mesmerised
seeing
the
beautiful
Capital
Football
Arena
in

#Bhubaneswar
where
our
football
stars
will
practice
during
the
FIFA
U-17

#WomensWorldCup.
I
am
sure,
the
world
class
facilities
at
the
training
centre
will
help
the
players
prepare
well
for
the
mega
event.

#OdishaForSports
pic.twitter.com/0TmK3fGw0k

—
Naveen
Patnaik
(@Naveen_Odisha)

October
6,
2022

Chief
Minister
Naveen
Patnaik,
“mesmerized”
by
the
facilities
at
the
stadium,
had
on
Friday
(October
7)
expressed
hope
that
the
teams
will
be
able
to
prepare
well
for
the
matches.

“Mesmerised
seeing
the
beautiful
Capital
Football
Arena
in
Bhubaneswar
where
our
football
stars
will
practice
during
the
FIFA
U-17
Womens
World
Cup.
I
am
sure
the
world
class
facilities
at
the
training
centre
will
help
the
players
prepare
well
for
the
mega
event,”
Patnaik
tweeted.

“Training
sites
at
the
Odisha
Football
Academy
in
Bhubaneswar
are
ready
for
(the)
FIFA
U-17
Womens
World
Cup.
I
am
sure
the
participating
teams
will
love
the
world-class
amenities
here.
Wish
the
teams
all
the
best,”
he
added.