All spectators turn to India as the country gears up to host its first ever FIFA World Cup. It has been around four years since India was chosen as the host country for 2017, Under-17 World Cup. Following are top 10 Exciting facts about the FIFA U-17 World Cup, started from October 6 to 28 across six cities in India—
Fact 1. The FIFA Under-17 World Cup was originally recognized in 1985 as the FIFA Under-16 World Cup which was organised in China. It changed to FIFA U-17 World Championship and came to be known by Since 2007, the tournament was expanded to 24 teams.
Fact 2. The edition of the FIFA U-17 World Cup has been organised in Asia than in any other country. The strategy in Indian will be the fifth after those organised in Chinese (1985), Japan (1993), The Korea Republic (2007) and UAE (2013).
Fact 3. Iran and Japan were the first teams to qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017 while Niger and Mali were the last two to gain qualification for the tournament in India.
Fact 4. Nigeria is only the country who have won the FIFA tournament 5 times (1985, 1993, 2007, 2013 and 2015). It is the most successful country, having also completed runners-up 3 times in 1987, 2001, 2009.
Fact 5. USA and Brazil share the history for most participation in the FIFA Under-17 World Cup. Both teams are contesting their 16th U-17 World Cup in this edition.
Fact 6. Brazil has won thrice in 1997, 1999, 2003 while Ghana in 1991, 1995 and Mexico won twice (2005, 2011). The then Soviet Union (1987), France (2001), Saudi Arabia (1989) and Switzerland (2009), have won the tournament once each.
Fact 7. India is the Eighteenth Asian team who participate in the Under-17 World Cup.Three teams are making their debut in this India edition – New Caledonia, Niger as well as hosts India.
Fact 8.
Brazil’s Ronaldinho is the only player to have won both FIFA U-17 in 1997 and FIFA World Cup Finals title in 2002.
14-year-old Freddy Adu, the first footballer, who scored a hat-trick in the FIFA Under-17 World Cup 2013 and a hat-trick in FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2007 to make a record of the hat-trick at the World Cups of both age levels.
Florent Sinama Pongolle from France was the first-ever Under-17 World Cupper to win the Golden Boot and Golden Ball in 2001.
Fact 9. The most attended match of Under-17 World Cup remains the 2011 final between Uruguay and Mexico which was joined by 98,943 viewers at the Azteca Ground in Mexico City. The most goals scored in a world cup was in the UAE in 2013 (with 172 goals in 52 matches).
Fact 10. There is the total of 12 players who have played in FIFA U-17 World Cup have also represented their countries in a FIFA World Cup Finals.
image source — available on internet
source – www.fifa.com
