Mumbai: The football crazy states of Goa and Kerala have not found a place of pride as they have been ignored as the venues for the 2020 FIFA Women’s Under-17 World Cup to be held in India in September-October next year. According to the sources, the four venues are New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Bhubaneshwar. “There are 16 teams and it has been just four venues which are fortunate to host the matches,” said the official while talking to Free Press Journal on Friday. “It is unfortunate that the football crazy state like Goa has been ignored, said the official while adding that even Kerala has not found their name in the list of the venues.
“As of now these are the venues and there will not be an addition to this. India qualify automatically as host, besides 15 other teams from six separate continents,” said the official on conditions of anonymity. With the U-17 World Cup awarded to India, it will be an opportunity of a lifetime for the national women’s team to leave a mark on the world’s football map. The development comes after India played hosts to FIFA U-17 men’s World Cup in the year 2017. Spain will put their title on defence to the biennial show-piece.
North Korea (2008 and 2016) have won the title twice while Japan (2014) and South Korea (2010) have won it once each among the Asian teams in this championship. The first edition of the U-17 women’s championship was held in the year in 2008 in New Zealand.
