Panaji: Goa would be one of the six centres in the country that are provisionally selected to host forthcoming FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017 matches.
"There will be four training grounds and one main stadium where the matches would be held," said Javier Ceppi, tournament director, local organisation committee (LOC) FIFA U-17 World Cup told reporters on Monday.
FIFA has provisionally shortlisted other centres like Guwahati, Kochi, Kolkata, Navi Mumbai and New Delhi besides Goa as the venues.
Ceppi said this is for the first time India would host for the football World Cup.
He also said that India will be given direct entry in the qualifying stage and 24 countries would qualify for the finals which will feature 52 matches in venue around the country.
As a prelude to the World Cup, Goa has also been selected as venue for AFC U-16 tournament that would be held next year.
Grounds at Benaulim, Vasco, Cuncolim and Utorda in Goa will be used for training while Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium at Fatorda will be the main stadium.
Ceppi further said that each of the four venues will get six matches each while the match in knock out round would be held at Fatorda stadium.
He said that the training venues will have to be upgraded to the FIFA standards.
According to Ceppi, the facilities would be reviewed in January and September 2016, one year ahead of the actual matches to check their preparedness.
The stadiums which sells most number of tickets and most willingness will get the marquee matches, he added.
"It is not a matter of small or big stadium. The matches in the venue would be decided on merit," Ceppi said.
The organisers have also shortlisted three more venues Bangalore, Chennai and Pune, if the currently shortlisted venues fail to provide the required infrastructure on lines with FIFA standards.
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