India will host the 2017 U-17 World Cup. The decision was announced on Thursday by Fifa president Sepp Blatter following the meeting of the Fifa executive committee at Salvador de Bahia, Brazil. - See more at: http://www.hindustantimes.com/sports-news/football/wait-over-india-to-host-u-17-world-cup/article1-1159606.aspx#sthash.fErojxFo.dpuf
India will host the 2017 U17 FIFA World Cup, according to the HINDUSTAN TIMES. FIFA President Sepp Blatter made the announcement on Thursday following an exec committee meeting in Salvador de Bahia, Brazil. The 24-team tournament "would be held at six venues." New Delhi, Goa, Bangalore, Pune, Mumbai, Kolkata, Kochi and Guwahati "are among the prospective venues." All India Football Federation President Paful Patel said, "This is historic. This is what we have been waiting for" (
HINDUSTAN TIMES, 12/6). INSIDE WORLD FOOTBALL's Andrew Warshaw reported "although the AIFF has hosted several international tournaments both at national and club level, it has never staged a FIFA event." Blatter had "apparently urged the country to bid when he visited last year." Blatter: "This is of enormous importance for a land of 1.2 billion people in sporting, political and geo-political terms." Meanwhile, the U17 "women's World Cup in 2016 has been awarded to Jordan" and the U20 women's World Cup to South Africa. FIFA VP and Jordan FA President Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein "hailed the decision as a huge opportunity that would have 'immeasurable positive impact on the progress of women's football not only in Jordan, but also across the region'" (
INSIDE WORLD FOOTBALL, 12/6).
FIFA VISITS BANGALORE: The DECCAN HERALD reported "with news that India has won the rights" to host the U17 World Cup in '17, "attention will obviously turn to the football academies that the country has over the course of next few months and how best to tap their talent." In India, there are five AIFF regional academies -- "two in Goa to go with the one each in Bangalore, Mumbai and Mumbai." The academy at the Bangalore Football Stadium started "taking in young players" on Nov. 1 and FIFA Head of Education & Technical Development Jerg Nepter "gave it the thumbs up after conducting an inspection of the facilities on Saturday." Nepter: "The first impression is very positive. We can see the commitment of the people" (DECCAN HERALD, 12/7).
