FATORDA: FIFA and Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup India 2022 announced the schedule for the biennial youth tournament and Goa’s Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium will host both semi-final matches as well as two quarter-finals matches, on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar will play home to India’s group stage matches and the final will be held in Navi Mumbai on October 30.
The DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai and the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda will equally share the four quarterfinal games.
Expressing his delight, Govind Gaude, Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs said, “Football is a widely played sport across the globe. It has a special place in the hearts of the people of Goa. The game symbolises spirit and unity. Goa has contributed talent to this game at various levels.”
“The State is proud to host matches for the upcoming 7th edition of the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup 2022. Goa has also hosted games for the FIFA U-17 Men's World Cup in 2017, and our association with FIFA has been encouraging and fruitful. As Goa is known for its hospitality and football, we look forward to the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2022 with warmth and joy,” he added
Goa has previously hosted the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017 and the last two editions of the Indian Super League in its entirety. The upcoming youth tournament will be another chapter in a long list of achievements for the football-loving state.
The schedule further revealed that the 24 group stage games will conclude on 18th October and the matches will be shared among all three host states – Goa, Odisha and Maharashtra. The quarter-finals round of games will be held on October 21 and 22 following which the semis will be held on October 26.
Four days later, a third-place match will serve as the precursor to the final at the DY Patil Stadium which will kick off at 8 pm local time.
The official draw will take place on June 24th.