Addressing the meeting on Tuesday, Sonowal urged upon all the stake holders of the tournament to work together as a team and put their best foot forward to make the tournament a grand success. He assured the complete support of the government for the first ever football World Cup in India.

Earlier, the AIFF President Praful Patel welcomed all the delegates and explained the vital importance of the tournament for the overall development of Indian football and outlined the support necessary from all quarters for successfully staging the tournament. 

He was followed by Javier Ceppi, Tournament Director, LOC FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017, who updated the board on the current progress of the preparations. 

The FIFA U 17 World Cup, 2017 is the first ever FIFA tournament to be held in India and will be staged in September–October 2017. Delhi, Mumbai, Goa, Kochi, Kolkata and Guwahati have been initially shortlisted as venues for the event.