Football overtaking cricket in India? FIFA U-17 WC tournament director makes serious claim

FIFA Under-17 World Cup tournament director Javier Ceppi on Sunday said the event has been more successful than the ICC World Cup 2011 in terms of spectators turnout, adding the “doors are now open” for India to get next edition’s U-20 World Cup.

Taking a 36-match cut-off after the end of group stage, Ceppi said the spectators mark has crossed a phenomenal 800,000, which is more than the 2011 Cricket World Cup, and double than what the last edition in Chile had witnessed.

“This was a make or break. If you’re not able to deliver then the doors would have closed definitely. Now the doors remain open. How it’s done in the future we need to see. Possibility will be there for Indian football,” Ceppi said about India’s bid for hosting the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2019.

“At this point of time, we are looking at a record attendance here in India 2017. It’s also over with the first 36 matches of the ICC World Cup 2011 which is usually considered here as the gold standard for a World Cup in terms of attendance,” Ceppi told reporters on Sunday.

There has been a frenzy around the sport since the tournament kicked off. “We …read more