MUMBAI: With the ongoing coronavirus crisis leading to world sport’s biggest and most complex event – the Olympic Games – postponed to next year, the spotlight is well and truly on the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup, which India is scheduled to host from November 2 to 21.
Only two teams – Japan and North Korea – of the 16 teams that will compete in the World Cup so far, along with hosts India, have officially confirmed their tickets to the event. As for the remaining 13 spots, all qualifying tournaments which were to be held over April and May have been postponed indefinuitely as all sport activities have been halted in the face of the pandemic.
Football’s world governing body FIFA has said it is in touch with the All India Football Federation and other bodies to keep track of the situation and plang alternate dates for the qualifiers.
“We are currently monitoring the situation regarding Covid-19 in India in close collaboration with the Local Organising Committee as well as other key stakeholders, including the AIFF, sports ministry and relevant authorities in the country. With public health and safety in mind, we are also working with the LOC to identify any potential impact of preparations for the tournament, as well as finding alternative solutions to upcoming events that were planned in the lead up to the tournament. Regarding qualifying tournaments for the event, we are currently working closely with confederations regarding alternate dates, a FIFA told Times of India.
Among the delayed events are CONCACAF Women’s U-17 Championships, South American U-17 Championships, Oceania U-17 Championship as well as the U-17 Women’s Euros. Qualifiers in the African region ared also expected to be negatively impacted.
The Indian cities of Ahmedabad, Bhubaneswar, Guwahati, Kolkata, and Navi Mumbai will host the 16 teams that will compete across 32 matches with the final in Navi Mumbai.
Roma Khanna, tournament director of the LOC in India, has said that with seven months left for the start of the tournament, there is still time to get alternate plans in place. The two new venues in Ahmedabad and Bhubaneswar are close to completion and state authorities have assured of all the help possible.
The positive here of course is that the logistics of delivering the event is well within India’s capacity to manage. The bigger imponderable is the qualifying events for the World Cup.
