The Minister of State (I/C) for Youth Affairs and Sports Shri Vijay Goel said in the Rajya Sabha today the preparations for the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017 scheduled to be held from 6th to 28th October, 2017 at six venues viz., New Delhi, Navi Mumbai, Kolkata, Kochi, Guwahati and Goa is progressing as per the plans and in terms of core infrastructure, almost 90% of all the requirements are already in place.

In a written reply he said, Mission XI Million is a joint programme, of this Ministry, All India Football Federation (AIFF) and Federation International de Football Association (FIFA) to popularise football across the country. The programme targets to reach 11 Million boys and girls across the country for promotion of football by 30th September 2017. Government of India has allocated around Rs.12.55 crores towards the said programme and an equal amount will be spent by AIFF/ FIFA. Around 6 Million children have already been covered under the said programme. The allocated resources are sufficient to cover 11 Million students, parents, and coaches as part of Mission XI Million Programme to popularize football in the country.

(Press Information Bureau, Government of India)