India will host the U-17 Women’s World Cup in 2020, FIFA confirmed

The President of International Football Federation, Gianni Infantino announced, after the FIFA Council meeting in Miami, USA, that India will host the U-17 Women’s World Cup in 2020. The decision to award the rights to India was taken in FIFA Council meeting held on 15th March 2019. Its earlier version, U-17 Women’s World Cup 2018, was held in Uruguay when Spain defeated Mexico in the title decider. New Zealand and Canada finished third and fourth respectively. Check out the champions, runners-ups, third place holders, and fourth place holders for last six seasons of U-17 Women’s World Cup here.

Year	Host	Champions	Score	Runners-up	Third place	Fourth place

2008	New Zealand	North Korea	2–1 (a.e.t.)	United States	Germany	England
2010	Trinidad and Tobago	South Korea	3–3 (a.e.t.) 5–4 pen	Japan	Spain	North Korea
2012	Azerbaijan	France	1–1 7–6 pen	North Korea	Ghana	Germany
2014	Costa Rica	Japan	2–0	Spain	Italy	Venezuela
2016	Jordan	North Korea	0–0 5–4 pen	Japan	Spain	Venezuela
2018	Uruguay	Spain	2–1	Mexico	New Zealand	Canada
2020	India

India scooped the rights after playing hosts to FIFA U-17 men’s World Cup. World Cup 2020 is going to be an opportunity of a lifetime for Indian football. It will help India’s national women’s team to leave a mark on the world’s football map.

“I would like to thank FIFA for keeping their trust in us and granting us the rights to host the tournament. I am also grateful to the Government of India and the State Governments for their support and providing us the necessary assurances which made winning this bid a reality,” AIFF President Praful Patel said. All India Football Federation realised that the football evolution in India is required to be moved forward. That was the key reason behind India’s bid for the U-17 Women’s World Cup. It is likely to change a lot of things in the country’s football environment.

Rajib Kar