The Japan Football Association (JFA) has announced the withdrawal of the Japanese national team from the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil. 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup hosts India have received an invitation from FIFA to replace Japan in the finals scheduled to kick-off in the summer.

The JFA took the decision at an extraordinary meeting yesterday evening and informed the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and FIFA on their withdrawal.

Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni will miss most of his Europe based players and he opined that Japan shouldn’t take part in the World Cup without their star players.

FIFA, in consultation with the AFC, evaluated the situation and came to a rapid decision to hand Indian football another boost. FIFA informed the All India Football Federation (AIFF) which received the good news in the early hours today.

The Indian national team will replace Japan in Group C, where they face Colombia, Greece and the Ivory Coast. The first match will be against Didier Drogba’s Ivory Coast in Recife on June 14.

Indian national team coach Wim Koevermans will call-up 40 players to a preparation camp later this week before the final India squad would be announced.

April 1, 2014 is a historic day for Indian football… wait… April 1? April Fool’s Day!!! 😉
Japan will be in Brazil and participate in the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

I hope you’ll take it easy and had some fun reading my share to the April fools’ jokes around the globe and keep smiling on this special day. Which were your personal favourite April fools’ jokes today? Please leave your comments in the COMMENT BOX at the bottom of this page and share the links to your favourite pranks.