Union Cabinet has approved the signing of guarantees for hosting the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup 2022 in India.
The decision was taken at a meeting of union cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2022 is scheduled to be held in India between October 11 and 30 across three different cities including Bhubaneshwar, Navi Mumbai and Goa.
The seventh edition of the biennial youth tournament will be the first-ever FIFA women’s competition to be hosted by India.
Financial outlay of Rs. 10 crore assistance to All India Football Federation (AIFF) for field of play maintenance, stadium power, energy and cabling, stadia and training site branding will be met from the budgetary allocation for the Scheme of Assistance to National Sports Federations (NSFs), an official release said.
It said that FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup India 2022 has the potential to strengthen women’s football in the country and the event is expected to increase representation of women in football leadership and decision-making bodies and improve football standards for women in India and improve the commercial value of the women’s game.
The event will not only promote football as sport of choice among Indian girls, but is also poised to leave a lasting legacy that will facilitate girls and women in the country to embrace football and sports in general.