AFC rejects Ranchi as venue for India’s Asian Cup qualifier against Hong Kong on March 31, 2027

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has rejected Ranchi as the venue for India’s inconsequential 2027 Asian Cup qualifier against Hong Kong on March 31, saying the stadium there did not meet infrastructure benchmarks for hosting international matches.

Kerala’s Kochi has emerged as the frontrunner to host the competition.

The Indian team has already been ruled out of the main draw of the 2027 Asian Cup after a series of poor performances last year.

With a view to taking football to new places and smaller cities, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) had proposed to hold the India-Hong Kong match at the Birsa Munda Stadium in Ranchi.

«Yes, the AFC has found that the Ranchi Stadium does not meet the requirements to host the international match. Kochi is among the venues under consideration,» a top AIFF source told PTI on condition of anonymity.

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A top official of the Jharkhand Football Association said the main problem is related to the locker room facilities, including lack of adequate toilets.

“We have committed to build the necessary facilities on time, but for the AFC, these (facilities) should be existing facilities and not built and completed in the future,” the official said.

An AFC team inspected the stadium, which is also used for athletics events, on February 4 hgtgdfgdtr14.

Published on February 11, 2026