(Image source from: Curtain Falls For FIFA U-17 World Cup 2015 In Chile)

The curtain falls on the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2015 in Chile. India would host the next edition of the event in 2017. In this context, FIFA will hand over 2017 U-17 World Cup to India, with the assurance of full support from the government by the Indian Sports Minister, Sarbananda Sonowal.

Sonowal assured the AIFF and the world football governing body, the complete support from government for successfully conducting the mega event in 2017. The closing ceremony of the 16th U-17 World Cup in Chile is the time and stage for FIFA to entrust India with the hosting mantle of the third most important event on the calendar of the world football.

“I urge all stake holders of the tournament to come together as a team and put their best foot forward to make the tournament a grand success. I also assure the complete support of our government for the first ever football World Cup in India,” Sonowal said.

FIFA 2017 U-17 World Cup would truly become the first global sports competition on Indian soil as the estimated global audience would be nearly 200 million from nearly 200 different countries. This event is looked upon by the All India Football Federation looks a crucial step towards building Indian sports. The event will see 52 games, in which 24 countries participate. The football matches of the tournament are scheduled to be organized across six world-class FIFA certified venues in India.

Kushal Das, general secretary of AIFF, said, “We are proud to host the third most coveted international football tournament in the world and the biggest ever in Indian history.

“This is a matter of national pride and it will help create world class infrastructure, bring in professional planning and execution and deliver the best possible tournament to India’s football lovers. We see this as the onset of a ‘Football Revolution’ in India,” Das added.

Praful Patel, President of AIFF, said, “This is historic. Hosting a tournament of such a stature will help galvanise the face of Indian football among the masses and youth of the country.”

-Sumana