HERE! Mark your dates for the FIFA U-17 World Cup!
India is set to host its first FIFA tournament in October and we're sure you can't wait to see the action begin.
The FIFA U-17 World Cup is set to take place from 6th to 28th October. The first game will be played at the Capital Stadium, the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Delhi in which, India which clash against North American side USA. With Columbia and Ghana finishing Group A, India is set to have a hard battle on the pitch to ensure a longer journey at its home. Defending champions Nigeria were unable to qualify for the 2017 U-17 World Cup, but we've an amazing dossier to look at.
Here is the detailed schedule of the FIFA U-17 World Cup to be played in India later this year. Please note, we've highlighted India's and all mouth-watering games!
Group A: -
The Indian football team qualified as hosts and was thus, position as A1. At A2 is the U-17 CONCACAF 2017 runners-up USA. Colombia qualified as the fourth spot-taker at the 2017 South American Under-17 Football Championship. Ghana gets the A4 position as the runners-up at the 2017 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations.
Also Read: India set to face USA, Columbia and Ghana in Group A at FIFA U-17 World Cup
GROUP B:-
At B1, Paraguay qualified to the FIFA U-17 World Cup taking the third place at the 2017 South American Under-17 Championship. Mali, New Zealand and Turkey take the B2, B3 and B4 slots. Mali won the 2017 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations. New Zealand qualified as the winners of the 2017 OFC U-17 Championship. Turkey completes the group, having reached the semi-finals of the 2017 UEFA European U-17 Championship.
GROUP C:-
Iran, Guinea, Germany and Costa Rica take the spots as the four teams, coming from C1 to C4. Iran was the runners up of the 2016 AFC U-16 Championship, and thus, qualified for the World Cup. Guinea got the third position for the 2017 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations. Germany lost the semi-finals of the 2017 UEFA U-17 Championships to Spain in a penalty shootout and thus, reach the World Cup. Costa Rica complete Group C, having reached the semi-finals of the 2017 CONCACAF Championships earlier this year.
Click here to check full FIFA U-17 World CUP Coverage.
GROUP D:-
Korea DPR, Niger, Brazil and Spain take the D1 to D4 spots in the fourth group. Korea qualified for the World Cup by reaching the semi-finals of the 2016 AFC U-16 Championships, losing to Iran on penalties. Niger made the cut getting the fourth spot at the 2017 U-17 African Cup of Nations. Brazil are the current favourites, having won the 2017 South America U-17 Championships. Spain will make life hard for the Joga Bonito inventors, as they won the 2017 U-17 UEFA Championships.
GROUP E:-
Honduras takes the E1 spot, making one of the four quotas available from the 2017 CONCACAF Championships. Asian heavyweights Japan take the E2 spot, having reached the semi-finals of the U-16 AFC Championships in 2016. New Caledonia and France take the E3 and E4 spots, having qualified as the finalists of the 2017 OFC U-17 Championship and winning the playoff for the U-17 World Cup respectively.
GROUP F:-
Iran, Mexico, Chile and England take the four spots at F1, F2, F3 and F4. Iran lost the finals of the U-16 AFC Championships in 2016, and Mexico won the finals of the 2017 CONCACAF Championships. Chile and England were both runner-ups at the 2017 South American Championships and the UEFA U-17 Championships, which completes all the groups.
Germany, Spain, England, Costa Rica, USA and Ghana are the heavyweights for the FIFA U-17 World Cup. Nigeria are the current holders of the World Cup, also winning the tournament five times in the history of the tournament, which started in 1991. The age group was U-16 from 1985 to 1991, which was revised by FIFA.
Ghana were the champions of the first FIFA U-17 World Cup, defeating Spain 1-0 in Italy.
[KH_RELATED_NEWS title="Related News"][/KH_RELATED_NEWS]NOTE: On paper, Group F looks the most exciting, with Group D slightly behind. In the age-group of U-17, we're certain to see lots of shocking results and a lot of amazing displays! If you haven't already booked your tickets, use the link here: World Cup ticketing news!
