The permissible seating capacity of the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium at Kaloor in Kochi, Kerala, for the worldwide pleasant match that includes Lionel Messi-led FIFA World Cup-winning Argentina workforce subsequent month, in November 2025, will be decided solely after an intensive examination of the stadium’s structural stability and bodily situation.
A safety audit will be collectively performed by experts from IIT Palakkad, the Public Works division (Buildings), and the Sports Kerala Foundation (SKF) — an organisation below the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs. Based on this audit, a choice relating to the seating capacity will be made.
The Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) has handed over the stadium to SKF to facilitate infrastructural enhancements in affiliation with the sponsors of the occasion forward of Argentina workforce’s go to.
In an announcement issued on Friday, the sponsors of Argentina’s go to to Kochi, Reporter Broadcasting Company, claimed that the stadium is being upgraded to accommodate 50,000 spectators.
However, sources from each the PWD and SKF clarified that the ultimate resolution on seating capacity will be taken solely after the safety audit, which entails IIT Palakkad experts who arrived at the stadium on Friday. An inspection would be performed following an outlined methodology, and exams will be carried out if essential to assess structural stability and safety, based mostly on which the seating capacity will be finalised.
“According to documents received from GCDA, the structural and designed capacity of the stadium when it was built in 1996 was 55,000. The economic lifespan of a structure is typically around 60 to 70 years, but this depends on timely maintenance. We do not wish to prejudge whether or not the same capacity can be permitted nearly 30 years later,” mentioned SKF sources.
Additionally, PWD sources confirmed that the seating capacity for current matches has been set at 35,000.
During the FIFA Under-17 World Cup matches hosted by the stadium in 2017, the capacity was lowered to 42,000 from the unique plan of 55,000 after FIFA expressed dissatisfaction with the evacuation preparations for the third tier. In case of an emergency, the group should be evacuated inside eight minutes, and FIFA discovered this unfeasible for the third tier after native organisers proposed putting in 32,000 bucket seats throughout two of the stadium’s three tiers.
Pitch enchancment works
Meanwhile, pitch enchancment works in accordance with FIFA pointers is below method at the stadium, whereas exterior renovation works will start shortly. As per the federal government order, all renovation bills will be borne by the sponsors, who said that works price ₹70 crore are in progress.
A gathering of varied departments convened to evaluate the preparations has resolved to full preparations at the earliest.
“Parking has been identified as a major challenge, especially considering the movement of VVIPs. A decision has been made to identify all potential parking areas in and around the stadium. The stadium will feature both outer and inner boundaries as part of the security measures,” mentioned SKF sources.
Ticket costs
In its assertion, the sponsor mentioned ticket costs would be introduced this week and clarified that the fares being circulated now had been “fake”.
