Sports in Goa

Football is widely popular in Goa, particularly around Margao where the main football stadium, at the Fatorda locality is based. Football is also played in local fields, during the non-monsoon, non-planting season, particular in central coastal Goa. Many of the country’s top NFL clubs such as the Vasco, Salgaokar, Dempo, Sporting Clube de Goa and Churchill Brothers are based in Goa.

In recent decades, a growing influence of cricket is visible, in large part fuelled by the massive coverage this sport gets on national television, thus making an impact even in a part of South Asia which hardly had any contact with the British Empire.

The state’s sole stadium is the Fatorda stadium, located near Margaon. The stadium hosts both international football as well as cricket matches. Hockey is the third most popular sport. Goa used to be a traditional bastion of hockey talent, though in recent times its popularity has been decreasing.