KOLKATA: FIFA president Gianni Infantino has said that the fate of India as the host of FIFA Under-20 World Cup in 2019 will be clear in the early part of 2018.
The All India Football Federation sent in its formal bid to the FIFA to host the event in September this year.
Infantino also said on Friday that the FIFA Council was mulling an amalgamation of the two youth World Cups into one and having an “Under-18 or Under-19” tournament with 48 team teams in a yearly format after the 2019 edition.
The successful hosting of the Under-17 world Cup will count when the world body evaluates the candidatures of the various applicants for the tournament. “This will now be analysed by the FIFA administration and presented to the Council for decision early next year,” The Hindu quotes Infantino as saying.
While appreciating the efforts put in by India in getting the infrastructure ready for the U-17 World Cup that was held across six Indian cities, Infantino added that the country now needs to “cherish the good work that has happened with the competition. This is about leaving a legacy of good football culture in the minds of the Indians. There is true passion for football and one should nurture it.”
AIFF president Praful Patel, who made a presentation to the FIFA Council as a special invitee, told media on Friday, “The Under-17 World Cup hosted by India has become most successful across all editions of the tournament. We have seen that the number of people flocking the stadiums is the best so far. Young India wants good football and they support whoever is doing well in football."
- Log in to post comments