The All India Football Federation (AIFF) remains hopeful of organising the FIFA Under-17 Women's World Cup in November despite the coronavirus pandemic causing cancellation and postponement of top sporting events, throwing international schedules haywire. The optimism stems from the seven months' time that the organising committee has at its disposal to prepare for the top age-group tournament.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the upcoming FIFA U-17 World Cup a "big opportunity for our younger generation" and said the event will increase the interest in football in the country.
Argentine legend Diego Maradona will kick off a football conclave on October 3 in the presence of a galaxy of current and former Indian stars like Bhaichung Bhutia, Sunil Chhetri and I M Vijayan.
The U-17 World Cup, the first-ever FIFA competition to be hosted by India, launched the Twitter handle -- @FIFAHindi to cater to football fans in the most widely spoken language in the country.
A star-studded England will take on unpredictable Chile in a Group F match of the FIFA U-17 World Cup at the refurbished Salt Lake Stadium, in Kolkata, on Sunday.
'Our plan is to put the best foot forward for the upcoming tournament and play good matches'
Indian U-17 team's performance was more of hype than actual achievement on the field.
Goa on Saturday joined Kochi and Navi Mumbai as one of the venues to host next year's FIFA U-17 World Cup after it received the green signal from a high-level delegation of football's world body. A 13-member FIFA delegation alongwith the Local Organising Committee (LOC) today made an inspection to ascertain the readiness of Goa to host matches and training sessions at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2017. Following the visit, LOC and FIFA experts expressed their satisfaction with the work which has been put in at the venue and ratified Goa as the third venue to host the event after Kochi and Navi Mumbai.
If an Indian born player with valid Indian passport thinks that he can play football, then All India Football Federation's Chief operating officer (COO) for the FIFA U-17 World Cup, Abhishek Yadav is looking for you.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be a part of the FIFA U-17 World Cup's opening day proceedings, which will include a small ceremony at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Friday.
With exactly 10 days to go for the FIFA U-17 World Cup, Local Organising Committee chairman Praful Patel, on Tuesday, declared that India is "100 per cent ready" to host the event.
India have been drawn in Group A alongside USA, Colombia and Ghana. The hosts face USA on October 6, followed by Colombia and Ghana on October 9 and October 12 respectively at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi.
Guwahati became the fifth Indian city to be ratified as a venue for next year's Under-17 football World Cup after a FIFA inspection team gave its thumbs up to the venue's preparedness and facilities.
Tournament director of the Local Organising Committee, Javier Ceppi made the announcement at a press conference in Kochi after inspecting the works being carried out in the stadium and the training sites.
It was heartbreak for the Americans, who finished runners-up in 2008.
Title contenders Germany and Nigeria on Monday qualified for the quarter-finals of the FIFA Women's Under-17 World Cup from Group B with wins over New Zealand and Chile respectively.
Just 18 months after pairing up, the young mixed doubles pair of Sathish Kumar Karunakaran and Aadya Variyath rise to World No 33.
'Today, U20 players are losing to Bangladesh, not qualifying for the Asia Cup. We can't expect miracles from the senior team. We need to really work at the ground level. The important thing for the AIFF is to bring as many kids as possible to play.'
Chile conceded an own goal through substitute Diego Valencia in the 81st minute.
A self-confessed football fan, Sourav Ganguly hoped Indian football would get a huge boost by hosting the Under-17 World Cup in 2017.
'Mission XI Million is the most ambitious football engagement programme to date in India.'
A goalkeeping howler and Yuri Alberto's opportunistic late strike were enough for Brazil to beat Mali 2-0 in an uninspiring match and finish third in the FIFA U-17 World Cup, in Kolkata, on Saturday.
Virat Kohli began training with the Delhi team on Tuesday ahead of his eagerly-awaited Ranji Trophy comeback after a 12-year gap.
A dominant Brazil made a strong statement of their top title contender status with a 2-1 victory over Spain in a Group D marquee clash of the FIFA U-17 World Cup, in Kochi, on Saturday.
Legendary footballers Esteban Cambiasso and Nwankwo Kanu along with Indian sporting icons Sunil Chhetri and P V Sindhu will attend the official draw for the FIFA Under-17 World Cup to be held in India later this year.
Three days ahead of India's formal bid for the Under-17 Football World Cup in 2017, the AIFF received a shot in the arm as the central government gave its approval for hosting the prestigious event.
It would be unfair to expect India to bedazzle crowds with eye-catching football. This team is built around stability, writes Dhruv Munjal
United States of America secured their passage into the round of 16 riding on substitute Ayo Akinola's 75-minute strike for a 1-0 victory over Ghana in an enthralling Group A game of the FIFA U-17 World Cup in New Delhi.
Chile U-17 side is yet to come to terms with Kolkata's searing heat and humidity, which could pose a problem during their upcoming World Cup campaign.
Both the teams have won their respective opening matches with Germany getting past Costa Rica 2-1 and Iran beating Guinea 3-1 last Saturday.
The tournament will conclude on June 26.
European champions Spain staved off a battling Mali to emerge 3-1 winners in a rip-roaring, action-packed semi-final contest to enter the summit clash of the FIFA U-17 World Cup at the D Y Patil Stadium, in Mumbai, on Wednesday.
Tanvi Patri didn't drop a single game across the five matches enroute to winning the title.
The marquee tournament starts October 6, and the Manipuri boy is excited to be a part of India's first-ever World Cup team.
England beat Spain 5-2 to win FIFA U-17 World Cup
Captain Ashalata Devi will become the first Indian woman footballer to play 100 international matches when she takes the field in the SAFF Championship opening match against Pakistan in Kathmandu on Thursday.
India midfielder Amarjit Singh Kiyam may have come a long way in the world of football over the last three years, but when he is back home on the outskirts of Imphal, Manipur with his parents and siblings, the youngster is still a man who likes to stay connected to his roots.
Unheralded New Zealand will have a tough job at hand when take on Turkey in the FIFA U-17 World Cup Group B opening match at the D Y Patil Stadium in Mumbai on Friday.
Named in the Brazil squad for the upcoming FIFA Under-17 World Cup, wonderkid Vinicius Junior is set to become the most expensive footballer ever to play in a competitive tournament in India.
The four semi-finalists from the AFC U-16 Championship qualify for the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup to be held in Peru. India had taken part in the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup by virtue of being the host team.
