Bhubaneswar on Tuesday became the first venue to get a provisional clearance for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup India 2020.
This was revealed by Tournament Director of Local Organising Committee Roma Khanna.
“We are happy to give a provisional clearance to the city of Bhubaneswar and confirm them as the first venue for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup to be provisionally selected,” she told reporters here.
Optimistic of Bhubaneswar emerging as the cornerstone event for women’s football in the country, she, however, said: “The State Government has to bring up the stadium and the training sites to FIFA standards. But we are satisfied with the commitment exhibited by the Government to complete all the work required to obtain the full ratification.”
The FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup India 2020 will help upgrade the infrastructure to FIFA standards. The Kalinga Stadium will become the first to host a FIFA competition in Odisha.
“We feel delighted to announce that Bhubaneswar is the first city to receive the provisional clearance to host the prestigious FIFA Women’s U-17 World Cup. It will be the first global football tournament for women in the country and a huge honour for the state to host such a prestigious tournament of the world’s most popular sport,” said Odisha Sports and Youth Services Minister Tusharkanti Behera.