Goa was approved to host next year's FIFA Under-17 World Cup after it received the green signal from a high-level delegation of football's world governing body on Saturday. Goa joins Kochi and Navi Mumbai who were given the nod earlier this week.
A 13-member FIFA delegation along with the Local Organising Committee inspected the Fatorda Stadium and expressed their satisfaction with the venue. The team also visited the training sites proposed for the event, the Tilak Maidan Stadium, the Cana Benaulim Ground, the Bambolim Stadium and the Utorda Ground.
Tournament director Javier Ceppi, who has overseen the progression of preparations at the venue, said, "Goa hosted the AFC U-16 Championship, which helped it get into very high infrastructure compliance levels and gives us enough confidence to ratify it as a venue for the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017. Now it is the moment to start focusing on all operational aspects to ensure a flawless delivery of the event."
The delegation will now travel to New Delhi tomorrow to inspect the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
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