Pic Courtesy: XtraTime
Kolkata: The FIFA President Gianni Infantino is considerably happy with the way India has organised the FIFA U17 World Cup. A day before the finals, the FIFA president in a press conference spoke on topics ranging from U20 World Cup to future of football in India.
Infantino mainly focussed on the following points:-
- Cricket must be forgotten as football is the future of India.
- The decision of the U20 World Cup scheduled to take place in 2019 would be made in 2018.
- The difference in playing level of India with other countries is decreasing day by day.
The FIFA is also pleased on watching the exciting among fans on the ongoing U17 World Cup. Infantino, who knows that India is cricket loving country is impressed with the fans and jokingly said, “forget cricket” and the on a serious note added, “Football is the future of India”.
“In 2018, for the U20 World Cup a lot of countries along with India will bid for hosting it. A joint committee will decide on the matter and then the FIFA council members will announce it. Despite the fact the India has a chance to host the U20 World Cup, however that will be disclosed in early 2018” Infantino added when he was questioned about India’s chances on hosting the FIFA U20 World Cup.
Infantino also added that currently two youth World Cups take place i.e. the U17 and the U20. However after 2019 the two world cups would be merged together and an U18 World Cup would take place which would feature 48 teams.
The FIFA President who has watched all of India’s matches claimed that the difference in playing level still remains with the other teams but that has significantly decreased to a great amount.
The AIFF President Praful Patel has requested the FIFA Council to conduct a meeting so that the focus of all the World falls on India. Patel also claimed that the ‘Renaissance of Football in India’ has already started.
The World Cup trophy can only be touched by the FIFA President himself and by the World Cup winners only. So in this case the Indian skipper Sunil Chhetri who is to bring the World Cup can only carry the plate without touching the World Cup trophy.