AIFF shortlists venues for Women's U-17 World Cup

Goa, Ahmedabad, Bhubaneswar, Kolkata and Mumbai have been shortlisted for the marquee football event.

New Delhi: FIFA delegates and Local Organising Committee for the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup India 2020 have paid a visit to shortlisted venues to check if they can host the tournament, India's second in three years.

The patron of Indian football, the All India Football Federation (AIFF), is believed to have shortlisted five venues, four of which will eventually get the nod.

If the sources are to believed Goa, Ahmedabad, Bhubaneswar, Kolkata and Mumbai have been shortlisted for the marquee football event.

FIFA Women's U-17 World Cup will be played in India in 2020.

The 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup, which was a 24-team event, needed six venues while the women's tournament has 16 teams and will be played at just four venues. The FIFA team visited Ahmedabad last week and will be in Goa on Thursday. India won the bid to host the tournament ahead of Armenia and France, who will host the Women's World Cup from June 7.

With AIFF is looking to add a new venue to its football map Bhubaneswar, India's newest sports hub, is likely to get the nod.

The Indian football governing body also has a rapport with the state government of Odisha, with teams like Indian Arrows, Minerva Punjab FC shifting base to the Kalinga Stadium.

Having won the bid in March, the AIFF is also looking at acquiring the necessary sovereign guarantees from the central government. The government has been supportive of the bid with sports secretary even sending a formal letter to FIFA pledging unstinted support.