In my childhood I used to dream that one day the Indian football team will play in the football World Cup. India never played in the World Cup football at any level. In 1950, we were invited to play in the World Cup in Brazil but we declined. That has been our only chance till date. Our best football success have come at the Asian level and the Olympics. We won Gold in the 1951 and 1962 Asian Games and silver in the 1964 Asia Cup. We were 4th in the 1956 Olympics. But these all are long back achievements which have faded from our memories. In recent years, we have been unable to qualify for the 2nd or 3rd round of the World cup qualification. Our rank is 130. But thanks to FIFA we are playing in U-17 World cup by virtue of hosting it.
Whatever the way, we will be seeing The Blue Tigers playing for the first time in the world cup at any level. I hope this is going to be a starting step for our future football success. One day this team will qualify in the 48 team football world cup. This doesn't mean I have great hopes on India U-17 team to do well in this tournament. I am not expecting them to put up an excellent show but hoping that they put up a decent show. If they qualify as one of the best third team to last 16 (however remote that chance!) it will be more than enough.
FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017 is going to be hosted by India from 6th Oct to 28th October this year. The draw for the tournament will be held on July 7, 2017. “Kheleo”, the leopard, is the tournament’s mascot. It was unveiled at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi by organisers of the 2017 Fifa Under-17 World Cup with Sports Minister Vijay Goel and All India Football President Praful Patel.
The tournament will be played in six venues which are:
The FIFA U-17 World Cup was originally started as the FIFA U-16 World Championship in 1985. The first team to win the tournament was Nigeria. The tournament was renamed as FIFA U-17 World Championship in 1991 and was won by Ghana. From 2007 the tournament was renamed as FIFA U-17 World Cup. Nigeria is the most successful team. They were champion 5 times (1985, 1993, 2007, 2013, 2015) and runner-up 3 times (1987, 2001, 2009). Nigeria never lost in the semifinal. Unfortunately we will not see Nigeria this time as they failed to qualify for 2017 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations.
Brazil is the second most successful team after Nigeria. They won the championship 3 times (1997, 1999, 2003) and where runner-up twice (1995, 2005). You will be very surprised to know that some of the football superpower failed to win the tournament. Spain runner-up 3 times (1991, 2003, 2007), Germany runner-up once (1985), Argentina finished 3rd thrice (1991, 1995, 2003) and fourth twice (2001, 2013), Italy was fourth in 1987 and Uruguay were runner-up once (2011).
Africa is the most successful continent. Beside Nigeria winning 5 times, Ghana won twice (1991, 1995). From Europe, Soviet Union won it in 1987, France in 2001 and Switzerland in 2009. Saudi Arabia from Asia won it in 1989. Among the CONCACAF countries Mexico won it twice (2005, 2011).
Who will win the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017? Before that who will qualify? 24 teams will qualify for this tournament. The break-ups are:
Whatever the way, we will be seeing The Blue Tigers playing for the first time in the world cup at any level. I hope this is going to be a starting step for our future football success. One day this team will qualify in the 48 team football world cup. This doesn't mean I have great hopes on India U-17 team to do well in this tournament. I am not expecting them to put up an excellent show but hoping that they put up a decent show. If they qualify as one of the best third team to last 16 (however remote that chance!) it will be more than enough.
FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017 is going to be hosted by India from 6th Oct to 28th October this year. The draw for the tournament will be held on July 7, 2017. “Kheleo”, the leopard, is the tournament’s mascot. It was unveiled at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi by organisers of the 2017 Fifa Under-17 World Cup with Sports Minister Vijay Goel and All India Football President Praful Patel.
The tournament will be played in six venues which are:
 Kochi (Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium) |
 Goa (Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium) |
 Guwahati (Indira Gandhi Athletic International Stadium) |
 Kolkata (Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan) |
 New Delhi (Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium) |
The FIFA U-17 World Cup was originally started as the FIFA U-16 World Championship in 1985. The first team to win the tournament was Nigeria. The tournament was renamed as FIFA U-17 World Championship in 1991 and was won by Ghana. From 2007 the tournament was renamed as FIFA U-17 World Cup. Nigeria is the most successful team. They were champion 5 times (1985, 1993, 2007, 2013, 2015) and runner-up 3 times (1987, 2001, 2009). Nigeria never lost in the semifinal. Unfortunately we will not see Nigeria this time as they failed to qualify for 2017 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations.
Brazil is the second most successful team after Nigeria. They won the championship 3 times (1997, 1999, 2003) and where runner-up twice (1995, 2005). You will be very surprised to know that some of the football superpower failed to win the tournament. Spain runner-up 3 times (1991, 2003, 2007), Germany runner-up once (1985), Argentina finished 3rd thrice (1991, 1995, 2003) and fourth twice (2001, 2013), Italy was fourth in 1987 and Uruguay were runner-up once (2011).
Africa is the most successful continent. Beside Nigeria winning 5 times, Ghana won twice (1991, 1995). From Europe, Soviet Union won it in 1987, France in 2001 and Switzerland in 2009. Saudi Arabia from Asia won it in 1989. Among the CONCACAF countries Mexico won it twice (2005, 2011).
Who will win the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017? Before that who will qualify? 24 teams will qualify for this tournament. The break-ups are:
| AFC (Asia) | Host | India |
| 2016 AFC U-16 Championship | Iran Iraq Japan North Korea | |
| CAF (Africa) | 2017 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations | Ghana Guinea Mali Niger |
| CONCACAF (Central, North America & Caribbean) | 2017 CONCACAF U-17 Championship | Honduras Costa Rica Mexico USA |
| CONMEBOL (South America) | 2017 South American Under-17 Championship | Brazil Chile Paraguay Columbia |
| OFC (Oceania) | 2017 OFC U-17 Championship | New Caledonia New Zealand |
| UEFA (Europe) | 2017 UEFA European Under-17 Championship | Turkey Spain England Germany France |
