Watching Football and Cricket in Kochi from Kalamassery

Key facts

The Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium at Kaloor, Kochi, opened in 1996 and is owned by the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA).
Kerala Blasters FC have played Indian Super League home matches at the Kaloor stadium since 2014; Forca Kochi FC of the Super League Kerala also use the stadium.
The stadium is served by the JLN Stadium station on Kochi Metro Line 1, on the same line as Kalamassery.
The last international cricket match in Kochi was an India–West Indies ODI on 8 October 2014.
Greenfield International Stadium at Karyavattom, Thiruvananthapuram, now hosts most top-level cricket in Kerala, including the Kerala Cricket League.

Kalamassery metro station above NH 544. Photo: Gnoeee / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

The stadium: Kaloor’s JLN

The Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium at Kaloor opened in 1996 and is owned by the GCDA. It has hosted ODIs, the IPL’s short-lived Kochi Tuskers Kerala in 2011, India national team football and matches of the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup. Since 2014 it has been home to Kerala Blasters FC, whose crowds are among the loudest in Indian football — Wikipedia records a noise level of 128 dB during the 2016 ISL final.

For a Kalamassery resident the key fact is simple: the stadium has its own metro station, JLN Stadium, on the same line. Going south from Kalamassery, it comes after Cochin University, Pathadipalam, Edappally, Changampuzha Park and Palarivattom — six stops, no change of train. Our Kalamassery metro station guide explains cards and tickets.

Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium, Kaloor, Kochi. Open in Google Maps · Directions from Ashraf Gents Hostel

Football: Kerala Blasters and Super League Kerala

Kerala Blasters (ISL)

The ISL calendar has been unsettled recently. The 2025–26 season started late, and Kerala Blasters’ first home game at Kaloor was played on 23 February 2026 after a rent dispute with the GCDA was settled at the last minute, according to Onmanorama. Fixtures, kick-off times and even venues can change at short notice, so follow the club’s official channels for the current season.

Tickets are sold online through the club’s official ticketing partner. Cheaper stands sell out first for big matches; buy as soon as sales open and avoid touts.
Kick-offs have usually been in the evening, so matches end late. Check the last metro times for that day before you go.
Bag rules: stadium security restricts bags, bottles and some items. Travel light.

Super League Kerala

The Super League Kerala is a state professional league started in 2024. The Kochi team, Forca Kochi FC, lists Maharaja’s College Ground as its home ground but has also used the Kaloor stadium. Tickets are usually cheaper than ISL, crowds smaller — a good way to see live football on a budget.

Cricket: mostly on screens

Kochi has not hosted an international cricket match since the India–West Indies ODI of 8 October 2014; after that, the Kaloor ground was converted for football. Top-level cricket in Kerala is now centred on the Greenfield International Stadium at Karyavattom, Thiruvananthapuram, which hosts international matches and the Kerala Cricket League — a long train journey from Kalamassery, worth planning as a weekend trip rather than an evening out. Our day trips list covers closer outings.

The Kerala Cricket Association has announced plans for a new cricket stadium and sports complex in the Kochi area, near the airport side of Aluva. Treat it as a proposal until construction is clearly under way.

In practice, cricket in Kalamassery means watching together: tea shops and small hotels with a TV, college common rooms, friends’ phones on a hostel balcony. For playing rather than watching, see gyms, grounds and fitness around Kalamassery.

Match-day plan from Kalamassery

Eat before you leave; stadium-area food is crowded and pricey.
Take the metro from Kalamassery to JLN Stadium well before kick-off — the station gets packed in the last hour.
Keep your phone, ID and ticket in front pockets. Leave valuables at your room.
After the final whistle, expect long queues at the station. Either leave a little early, or wait 20–30 minutes for the crowd to thin. Check whether KMRL has announced extended services for the match.
If the metro has stopped, a bus or auto north along the highway is the fallback — see autos and taxis and late-night arrival tips.

Fans who live up the line

Living a few metro stops from Kaloor makes it easy to follow a season without the cost of living in the city centre. Ashraf Gents Hostel, at Ashraf house, NAD Road, by the signal in Kalamassery, is a men’s hostel and PG for students, staff and working men. Its public profile gives an indicative rate of about ₹2,000–3,000 per head per month, negotiable, one month’s advance — confirm on the call. Match nights end late, so ask about entry timings when you ring +91 90746 23855, and see the rooms on the home page.

Frequently asked questions

Which metro station is nearest to Kaloor stadium?

JLN Stadium station on Kochi Metro Line 1. From Kalamassery it is six stops south, with no change of train.

Where do Kerala Blasters play their home matches?

At the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium in Kaloor, Kochi, their home since 2014. Check the club’s official channels for the current season’s fixtures.

Is international cricket played in Kochi?

Not recently. The last international in Kochi was in October 2014. Kerala’s international cricket is now mostly at Greenfield Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram.

Is there a cheaper way to watch live football in Kochi?

Super League Kerala matches involving Forca Kochi FC are usually cheaper and less crowded than ISL games. Check the league’s fixtures and ticketing for the current season.

Sources

Facts about Ashraf Gents Hostel come from the hostel’s own profile and photos; rates are indicative and confirmed on the call. Last reviewed 7 October 2026. How we write these guides: editorial notes. Map embeds © Google.