The FIFA team that was recently in the country to inspect the stadiums made it quite evident with their reactions that India has the potential to host a "tremendous World Cup".
It should indeed be looked upon that way. Hosting this tournament would mean that the country would finally have the infrastructure, facilities, dressing rooms, stadiums, and pitches that would meet the FIFA standards.
Not to forget, this is the first step in an otherwise long journey towards developing a reputation of being serious about football. With India's domestic football league, I-League, failing to improve the standards of the game due to it being overshadowed by other sports, the FIFA under-17 World Cup can act as an impeccable platform to launch a campaign to maybe host the FIFA World Cup in the foreseeable future.
When FIFA president, Sepp Blatter, visited India in 2007, he said something that will be etched forever in the hearts of every Indian football fan. Blatter designated India as a "sleeping giant" when it came to handling the affairs of international football. Keeping in mind the lucrative possibilities that the game possess, he said that land and infrastructure must be allocated for the betterment of football.
India winning the bid to host the FIFA under-17 World Cup is a sign of virtuous times to roll for Indian football. All India Football Federation (AIFF) president, Praful Patel, has a clear strategy in mind. He wants football to be the number one sport in the country. He believes that the U-17 World Cup, by virtue of India participating as hosts, will be a landmark event for the country thereby redefining the sport.
It's good to see that the Indian football fraternity is represented by the right kind of people. Even Blatter recently went on the record saying that India as a "giant" has started to wake up. And it can be said with paramount certainty that the exposure that India would have at the international stage due to the status and eminence that this tournament holds will surpass any and all other footballing events.
India, as a country, has indeed seen its ups and downs on various fronts and nonetheless football was the least of its problems. Therefore call it twist of fate or call it stroke of luck, but India did manage to win the bid, surpassing 4 other countries, and gain the esteemed honour to host a world-class tournament even after having an initial bid rejected by FIFA.
India hosting the 2017 FIFA under-17 World Cup is undeniably a big deal. We'll have some potential future Indian stars battling it out on the field with talented international U-17 stars, some of whom can play in distinguished European leagues in future. Not only would it improve the imminent quality of Indian football at hand, it would also play a major role in getting hardcore English Premier League and UEFA Champions League fans from India inclined towards following Indian football for a change. The rest only time will tell.
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U-17 WC: Indian soccer's date with glory
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