Satisfied with the facilities and preparations, football’s world governing body FIFA ratified Navi Mumbai as a venue for the Under-17 World Cup to be held in India next year.

A 23-member high-level delegation, comprising experts from FIFA and Local Organising Committee (LOC), visited the D Y Patil Sports stadium in Navi Mumbai this morning before announcing its decision to select the stadium.

FIFA Project Lead for the U-17 World Cup, Tracy Lou said, “Big congratulations from FIFA for excellent work and good decision from Javier and team in choosing Navi Mumbai as one of the venues for the first ever FIFA Under 17 World Cup in India”.

The basis for the ratification for the Navi Mumbai venue not only focused on the main DY Patil Stadium and the training sites, but also took into account the interest that local authorities took throughout the process.

Also Kochi became the first Indian city to be officially declared as one of the venues for hosting the U-17 World Cup after it received a green signal from a high-level delegation of football’s world body.

The delegation will now visit Goa on October 22. “The stadium has completed most of the things that we had asked or were asked. We are extremely happy with the quality of work. This is really a world class facility as it was mentioned in February,” Ceppi said.

“Navi Mumbai Sports Association has been a wonderful partner. Its truly a exciting moment for Indian football and its a tribute to the sporting culture of Navi Mumbai, that we have this opportunity to host this event”. FIFA officials said there will be 24 teams which will take part in the tournament.