'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
India have been confirmed as hosts of the 2017 Under-17 FIFA World Cup. The announcement was made by FIFA after their executive committee meeting in Sauipe Hotel in Salvador de Bahia, Brazil on Thursday.
India saw off competition from the other bidders Azerbaijan, South Africa and Uzbekistan, and have been granted the chance to host a football World Cup, albeit the under-17 version, for the very first time.
In the recent past, India have hosted the AFC Youth Championship in 2006 and AFC Challenge Cup in 2008.
As per the bid, eight cities – New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Margao, Kochi, Pune and Guwahati – are in line to be the venues for the 24-nation tournament but only six will be selected.
Expressing this delight, AIFF president Praful Patel told the federation’s website, “This is historic. This is what we have been waiting for. I need to thank the FIFA executive committee for keeping their trust on us and granting India the rights to host the 2017 U-17 World Cup. I am also grateful to the government of India for their support and giving us the necessary guarantees which made it possible for India to bid for the 2017 World Cup.
“Hosting a tournament of such a stature will also help galvanise the face of Indian Football among the masses and youth of the country. At the moment, football is popular in certain pockets in India. With the U-17 World Cup taking place, I strongly believe that the popularity will swell overnight and the mission of making football a pan-India sport will be realised.”
AIFF general secretary Kushal Das added, “I cannot sum it up in words what this means to Indian football. The entire country has been waiting with bated breath for the final decision to be taken.
“I would like to thank our president Mr. Praful Patel for bringing the U-17 World Cup to India. Without him we wouldn’t have got the clearances from the government of India and the hosting rights. I’m extremely grateful to FIFA for their support and encouragement.”
