Fatorda stadium was built in a record six months by the then Sports Minister Monte (D') Cruz. It was opened in 1989 as a football-only stadium but in less than a year was redeveloped to include cricket. On 25 October 1989 the first cricket ODI was played between Australia and Sri Lanka in Nehru Cup.
In 2014 it was upgraded according to the latest FIFA specifications. It is designed with a 20,000 seating capacity. The stadium complex provides two levels of fan seating arrangement along with a VIP area. Facilities include arena lighting, natural turf, broadcast room, TV studio, player dressing rooms, match delegates area, doping control rooms, medical rooms for players and spectators, VIP lounge, corporate boxes, media tribune and media working stations, press conference area, mixed zone area, CCTV cameras, a swimming pool, multipurpose gymnasium and parking facilities. It is regarded as one of the most well maintained football grounds in the Indian subcontinent.[5]
On 1 October 2022, it was announced that India's First Hybrid Pitch will be installed in this Stadium ahead of FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup 2022.[6]
Although the stadium was originally built to be a football venue, over the past few years[when?] it has been increasingly used to host international cricket matches. Since hosting its first ever international in 1989 between Australia and Sri Lanka, it has played host to seven further One Day Internationals, the most recent being between India and Sri Lanka in 2007.[17] The allocation of cricket matches to the stadium has often upset the Goan football community as it renders them unable to use the venue for hosting football.[18]
Lusofonia Games
The Stadium was renovated for the 2014 Lusofonia Games, which was conducted in Goa.[19][20][21] The opening and closing ceremonies of these Games were held at this venue.[21] Football matches of the Lusofonia Games were also held here.[21]
