By Samindra Kunti in Mumbai
October 11 – Hosts India will kick off the U-17 Women’s World Cup against the United States in Bhubaneswar today after a protracted and turbulent build-up to the tournament.
Five years ago, India’s boys crashed out of the U-17 World Cup in the first round. They had not stood much of a chance in a group with Ghana, Colombia and the United States.
Today, India’s curtain raiser is once again against the Americans, a daunting opponent, but this time there is a sense of relief that the tournament is taking place at all in India.
Following the exit of Praful Patel, a FIFA Council member, from the All India Football Federation (AIFF), FIFA suspended the Indian governing body for third-party interference and stripped India of the hosting rights before India’s supreme court repelled the committee of administrators and handed power back to the AIFF. FIFA moved to welcome the Indians back to the football fraternity and AIFF retained the hosting rights to the tournament.
“I think this is going to be a milestone for Indian women footballers,” AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey told local media.
“When a young girl sees an international women’s team playing on the ground in international matches with so much support from across all quarters of India and internationally, it inspires her to become like that or be a part of that. Therefore, many young girls will be inspired, motivated, and encouraged to play football after this FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.”
Bhubaneswar, Goa and Navi Mumbai will serve as host cities. In 2019, India were awarded the hosting rights for the finals, but FIFA was then forced to postpone the 2020 edition because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Organisers were forced to reschedule the competition again in March 2021 and downsize the venues from five to three. Kolkata, the centre stage venue of the 2017 U-17 World Cup in football-mad Bengal, and Guwahati were not retained. The decision to limit the number of venues was taken to try and contain the spread of the coronavirus.
The curtain raiser against the United States is a sell-out at the 12,000-seater Kalinga stadium. Ticket prices for India’s other matches – against Brazil and Morocco – are affordable, costing Rs90 and Rs180.
Brazil face Morocco on Tuesday’s other group A match while Germany play Nigeria in Group B’s standout match in Goa.
Mumbai will host the final on 30 October.
Groups
Group A: India, USA, Brazil, Morocco
Group B: Germany, Nigeria, Chile, New Zealand
Group C: Spain, Colombia, Mexico, China
Group D: Japan, Tanzania, France, Canada
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