The Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium, also known as Kaloor Stadium, is a multi-purpose stadium in Kochi, Kerala, India. The stadium has a capacity of 41,000 spectators. For Indian Super League matches, where Kerala Blasters FC plays its home games, it used to be restricted from 80,000 to 41,000 by FIFA. The stadium is widely touted to have hosted one of the loudest audiences for association football matches in the world. The stadium has played host to a number of international cricket and football matches but after 2014 it didn't hold any cricket match due to ISL. The extensive grounds of the stadium serve as venue for important exhibitions, cinema events and political rallies in the city. The most innovative aspect of the stadium is its unique lighting towers of 2 kW Floodlights which when switched on fully can provide lighting levels for HD telecast. The Structure of the tower is itself one of a kind in India. Greater Cochin Development Authority leased out the Jawaharlal Nehru International stadium at Kaloor to the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) for a period of 30 years. The stadium acts as the home ground for teams including Kerala cricket team, Kerala Blasters FC (Indian Super League). Stadium holds the privilege of having the fifth loudest crowd (128 db) in the world, during ISL 2016 final match where Kerala Blasters played against Atletico de Kolkata. Kochi was one of the six host cities for 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup held in India. As of 19 August 2017, the stadium has hosted 10 ODIs. History Early years and football's popularity The Kaloor Stadium was originally constructed as a cricket stadium. But considering that Kerala is one of the few regions in India where football enjoys considerable popularity it was used for football matches also. Indeed, in a match between India and Iraq in 1997, approximately 1,00,000 spectators filled up the venue, thus overcrowding it, which remains a record at this place. This was in the Nehru Cup International Football Tournament in 1997, which was the first tournament at the venue. The stadium won several laurels for being constructed in a timely manner. The stadium was completed under the watchful eyes of late V. Joseph Thomas IPS who was the head of the Greater Cochin Development Authority. He was a huge fan of soccer from his college days at St. Thomas College, Palai and also served as the