The Government of India has officially granted its support for India’s Bid for the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has received all necessary guarantees and approvals from the Government of India and the State Governments to go ahead with the bid.

The AIFF was informed about the decision in a letter by Ajay Maken, Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, six months after the official bid announcement in the presence of FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter’s in Delhi [+ read more].

“It gives me immense pleasure to inform you that the Government supports the possibility that FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017 may be staged in India,” Maken said in his letter dated September 19.

“Also, the Government supports the presence of FIFA and of any FIFA member associations in India in connection with the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017. The Government will also support all efforts that envisage the hosting and staging of the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017 and those that contribute to the development of football in India,” the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports continued.

“A detailed communication on the guarantees sought by AIFF is being conveyed to the General Secretary of the AIFF, separately, by my department,” he concluded.

The long wait is finally over and the AIFF can now progress to the next step and submit India’s Bid documents to football’s world-governing body FIFA.

The decision on the hosts for the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup will be taken by the FIFA Executive Committee at their meeting on December 14 in Tokyo during the 2012 FIFA World Club Championship.

So “INDIA 2017” is finally rolling and Indian football fans are hoping for a successful bid. Football fans interested to support India’s Bid for the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup may join the “INDIA 2017” Facebook Fanpage www.facebook.com/india2017 and keep on track with all the latest on the bidding process.

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