Indian Super League [ISL] 2020-21 to be held in Goa

The seventh edition of the Indian Super League will be held in Goa between November 21 2020 and March 21 2021. Three stadiums – the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda, the GMC Stadium in Bambolim and the Tilak Maidan Stadium in Vasco da Gama have been chosen as the venues for the tournament.

The organising committee of the ISL, Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) signed an agreement with the Sports Authority of Goa who own the three stadiums. FSDL had shortlisted two venues originally – Kerala and Goa to host the league. After undertaking a recce of Goa’s stadiums and facilities, they decided to go with Goa to host the tournament which will be held behind closed doors.

FSDL has identified 10 training pitches as well for the 10 participating teams. They will also work closely with the Sports Authority of Goa to upgrade the pitch, floodlights and other facilities at the stadiums in Bambolim, Fatorda and Vasco.

While the Fatorda Stadium is used by FC Goa as their home ground in the ISL, the Tilak Maidan are hosts to the AIFF developmental side, Indian Arrows. The GMC Stadium in Bambolim was the venue for the Santosh Trophy final in 2017.

Each of these three stadiums will host three-four teams which will act as their home ground and they have been decided based on league position. The top 3 from the 2019-20 season are at the Fatorda followed by the next four at GMC and Tilak Maidan hosting the bottom-placed teams.

Fatorda Stadium: ATK Mohun Bagan, Bengaluru FC, FC Goa.

GMC Stadium, Bambolim: Chennaiyin FC, Kerala Blasters, Mumbai City FC, Odisha FC.

Tilak Maidan, Vasco: Hyderabad FC, Jamshedpur FC, Northeast United FC.

12 training grounds have been shortlisted for the teams:

North Goa: Sangolda, Candolim, Peddem, Morjim, Poriat

South Goa: Navelim, Nagoa, Utorda, Benaulim, Betalbatim, Canacona, Cuncolim.