India Drawn With Gha, USA, Colombia

FIFA U-17 World Cup Draw

Hosts India will kick off their campaign against the USA on October 6

MUMBAI, July 7: Hosts India were on Friday clubbed with the United States of America, Colombia and Gha in Group A of the FIFA U-17 World Cup, it was decided in the official draw held here.

The U-17 World Cup will be held for the first time in India from October 6-28.

A total of 24 teams will take part in the youth showpiece to be hosted by six cities across the country. Nigeria are the defending champions.

India will kick off their campaign against the US on October 6 before taking on Colombia on October 9.

The hosts will conclude the first phase with a match against Gha on October 12. Gha, for the record, won the tourment in 1991 and 1995.

The tourment's opening match will be between Colombia and Gha (Group A) and New Zealand and Turkey (Group B) in New Delhi and Mumbai respectively.

Besides New Delhi where India will play their group matches, the other five cities earmarked for the youth showpiece are Mumbai, Kochi, Goa, Guwahati and Kolkata which will also host the fil.

Besides African side Niger and Oceania outfit New Caledonia, India will take part in any FIFA World Cup for the first time.

Two teams from each group along with the four best third placed teams in the group stages will move to the round of 16, to be held from October 16.

The quarter fils are to be held on October 21 and 22 followed by the two semi-fils on October 25 in Guwahati and vi Mumbai.

The third place game and the fil are both scheduled in Kolkata on October 28.

It should be mentioned that Lakhya Konwar, Member Secretary, SLAC and Asutosh Agnihotri, Commissioner, Sports were present in the official draw programme.   IANS