India’s campaign at the under-17 FIFA World Cup ended when they lost to Ghana 4-0 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi. India did not win a single match in the World Cup, but they surely won many hearts as they gave their heart and soul in every game. India even managed to score their first ever goal in a FIFA World Cup as Jeakson Singh netted one in through a header against a tough side like Colombia.
But why did India have to host such an event? And how much did it cost to host such an event, even if it’s an Under-17 World Cup?
In a country like India, where Cricket is a religion, football is still a popular sport in India. However, the popularity is just for clubs like Manchester United, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Chelsea and other big clubs. Moreover, during an event like FIFA World Cup, football fans support countries like England, Brazil, Spain and Germany. Little they might have heard about leagues like the I-league or the Indian Super League.
Therefore, hosting such an event will boost Indian football as all the three matches which the Indian team played at the Jawaharlal Nehru in New Delhi was full. There was enormous support for the young Indian team, and they did not disappoint. Even though they lost all the three matches, they went down with grace, giving everything in every match.
For any country, hosting a sporting event, money is a crucial factor. Rs 18 crores it took for India to host the U-17 FIFA World Cup. Money, however, cannot calculate the exposure and experience a tournament of this status will provide to the young teens. The likes of Dheeraj Singh, Jeakson Singh, Anwar Ali, Komal Thatal and Rahul KP showed potential and promise throughout the tournament and hopefully this World Cup helps them in their football career.