Bhubaneswar: Football fever is hitting a new high everyday as the date for the first Indian Super League (ISL) match to be held here draws closer.

Jamshedpur FC will take on table-toppers Bengaluru FC at Kalinga Stadium on Sunday. While the Jamshedpur FC team, which has adopted the stadium as its home, reached Bhubaneswar on Monday, Bengaluru FC is expected here on Saturday.

Offline sale of tickets for the match started at the stadium on Tuesday. Fans can buy tickets, priced at Rs 50, Rs 150 and Rs 240, from the kiosk outside the stadium. Football fans can also book tickets for the match online through www.kyazoonga.com. The price of tickets is Rs 150 for the South Stand and Rs 240 for the East Stand. The stadium can accommodate 12,000 people.

"This is the first time that Bhubaneswar will host a football match of such standards. We have earlier witnessed several international hockey matches and fans will equally enjoy the football match and we are eagerly waiting for it," said Akash Senapati, a football fan.

The owner of Jamshedpur FC, steel major Tata Steel, have adopted Kalinga Stadium as their second home ground after Jamshedpur. While the stadium area will be under the control of the franchise owner, the state government will make other arrangements such as promotion and security for the match. The franchise owner has hired a Delhi-based agency to develop the playing area for the football match.

Earlier, the sports department completed upgrade of the stadium facilities along with new rooms for the players. The department has also developed the practice ground and put in additional seats for the match.

"The Kalinga Sports Complex has already hosted the Asian Athletics Championship and international hockey tournaments. The complex will cement its place in the sports arena by hosting an ISL match that features several international players," said a sports official.