India is all set to host its first FIFA tournament. The U-17 Football World Cup will kick off on October 6 with simultaneous games in New Delhi and Mumbai. The hosts will be participating in a FIFA tournament for the first time and they play their first match against USA on the inaugural night in the national capital. The match is scheduled to kick off at 8 PM.
The showpiece event will witness 24 best teams from the world competing for the silverware. A total of 52 games (36 group stage + 16 eliminators) will be played across six venues – New Delhi, Mumbai, Kochi, Goa, Guwahati and Kolkata.
The teams have been divided into six groups:
Here is a look at the complete schedule:
October 6
India Vs USA- 8 pm Group A, Delhi
Colombia Vs Ghana – 5 pm Group A, Delhi
New Zealand Vs Turkey- 5 pm Group B, New Mumbai
Paraguay Vs Mali- 8 pm Group B, Navi Mumbai
October 7
Germany Vs Costa Rica- 5 pm Group C, Goa
Iran Vs Guinea- 8 pm Group C, Goa
Brazil Vs Spain- 5 pm Group D, Kochi
DPR Korea Vs Niger- 8 pm Group D, Kochi
October 8
New Caledonia Vs France- 5 pm Group E, Guwahati
Honduras Vs Japan- 8 pm Group E, Guwahati
Chile Vs England- 5 pm Group F, Kolkata
Iraq Vs Mexico- 8 pm Group F, Kolkata
October 9
India Vs Colombia – 8 pm Group A, Delhi
Ghana Vs USA – 5 pm Group A, New Delhi
Turkey Vs Mali – 5 pm Group B, Navi Mumbai
Paraguay Vs New Zealand – 8 pm Group B, Navi Mumbai
October 10
Costa Rica Vs Guinea – 5pm Group C, Goa
Iran Vs Germany – 8pm Group C, Goa
Spain Vs Niger – 5pm Group D, Kochi
DPR Korea Vs Brazil – 8pm Group D, Kochi
October 11
France Vs Japan – 5pm Group E, Guwahati
Honduras Vs New Caledonia – 8pm Group E, Guwahati
England Vs Mexico – 5pm Group F, Kolkata
Iraq Vs Chile – 8pm Group F, Kolkata
October 12
Ghana Vs India – 8pm Group A, New Delhi
USA Vs Colombia – 8pm Group A, Navi Mumbai
Mali Vs New Zealand – 5pm Group B, New Delhi
Turkey Vs Paraguay – 5pm Group B, Navi Mumbai
October 13
Costa Rica Vs Iran – 5pm Group C, Goa
Guinea Vs Germany – 5pm Group C, Kochi
Niger Vs Brazil – 8pm Group D, Goa
Spain Vs DPR Korea – 8pm Group D, Kochi
October 14
France Vs Honduras – 5pm Group E, Guwahati
Japan Vs New Caledonia – 5pm Group E, Kolkata
Mexico Vs Chile – 8pm Group F, Guwahati
England Vs Iraq – 8pm Group F, Kolkata
The two top teams from each group will qualify for the round of 16. Four third-placed teams will also join them. The contests will be played on October 16, 17 and 18, with matches starting at 5 PM and 8 PM.
The quarter-finals will take place on October 21 and 22. The matches will be held in Kolkata, Kochi, Guwahati and Navi Mumbai.
The semi-finals will take place on October 25 in Guwahati and Mumbai. The final of the tournament and the third-place play-off will be hosted in the iconic Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on October 28. Let the games begin!
Feature image: AIFF
