New Delhi: Host nation India, along with Iraq, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Japan and DPR Korea, will discover the teams standing between themselves and global glory when the official draw for October’s FIFA U-17 World Cup is held in Mumbai on Friday.
In total, 24 teams will be drawn into four pots, with the sides ranked according to their performances at the last five FIFA U-17 World Cups (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 for a loss). FIFA’s general principle is to ensure that no group has more than one team from the same Confederation drawn into it. India, already pre-assigned to position A1, will play all their Group A games in New Delhi. The draw is set to take place at 19.00 local time.
POT 1: India, Mexico, Brazil, Germany, Mali, France
POT 2: Spain, Japan, New Zealand, England, Islamic Republic of Iran, USA
POT 3: Costa Rica, DPR Korea, Honduras, Iraq, Turkey, Colombia
POT 4: Chile, Paraguay, Ghana, Guinea, Niger, New Caledonia
Asia’s Hopefuls
India: As host nation, India qualified automatically for the FIFA U-17 World Cup, and this will be the first time that the country has represented Asia at a FIFA event. India failed to progress beyond the Group Stage at last year’s AFC U-16 Championship, but hope springs eternal under new coach Luis Norton de Matos who was appointed in March.
Iraq: A talented Iraq side beat regional rivals Islamic Republic of Iran on penalties to claim the 2016 AFC U-16 Championship in India and confirm their spot at the FIFA U-17 World Cup. The Iraqis are set to make their second appearance at the tournament having featured in the 2013 edition which was held in the United Arab Emirates.
Islamic Republic of Iran: After losing out on penalties to Iraq in the final of last year’s AFC U-16 Championship, Islamic Republic of Iran are set to embark on their fourth campaign at this level. Previous appearances in 2001, 2009 and 2013 saw the Iranians twice go beyond the Group Stage, a notable achievement that head coach Abbas Chamanyan will be hoping can be repeated in India.
Japan: The Japanese reached the semi-finals of the 2016 AFC U-16 Championship before being beaten by Iraq. Despite that defeat, their place at October’s FIFA U-17 World Cup was assured, with the Samurai Blue now set to make an eighth appearance at the tournament. Japan have twice reached the quarter-finals – as hosts in 1993 and then again in 2011.
DPR Korea: Despite eventually losing out to the Islamic Republic of Iran in the last four, a quarter-final victory over Oman at last year’s AFC U-16 Championship guaranteed DPR Korea their ticket to India. The Young Chollima have progressed into the knockout phase of the FIFA U-17 World Cup on three previous occasions – 2005, 2007 and, most recently, 2015.
The Action
The FIFA U-17 World Cup is set to get underway on October 6, with the final scheduled for October 28. The competition’s opening games will be played in New Delhi and Navi Mumbai.
Asia @previous FIFA U-17 World Cups
Saudi Arabia are Asia’s only previous champions, having won the event in 1999 when it was the FIFA U-16 World Cup. In addition, three sides have finished third – Bahrain, Qatar and Oman in 1989, 1991 and 1995 respectively. Nigeria are the FIFA U-17 World Cup’s most successful nation having claimed five titles and are followed by Brazil who have three successes to their name.
FIFA U-17 World Cup Venues
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi
Indira Gandhi Athletic International Stadium, Guwahati
Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium), Kolkata
Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium, Kochi
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Margao
Dr. DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai
Photos: AFC & All India Football Federation
Source: the-afc.com