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Kochi confirmed as venue for U-17 FIFA World Cup to be hosted in India

The news was confirmed by FIFA representative and tournament director Javier Ceppi, who also said that Kochi has successfully passed the 'test', which means they have a chance to host a semi-final match. This is amazing news for many football fans in Kerala who wanted a World Cup game to be staged in the state.

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In what is probably a dream come true for Kerala football fans, Kochi has been selected as one of the venues for the FIFA under-17 World Cup to be held in the country.

The news was confirmed by FIFA representative and tournament director Javier Ceppi, who also said that Kochi has successfully passed the 'test', which means they have a chance to host a semi-final match. This is amazing news for many football fans in Kerala who wanted a World Cup game to be staged in the state.

But Ceppi also said that despite Kochi getting the green signal the FIFA delegation will visit the venue on September 2016 for inspection. Kochi also has a chance to miss out on hosting games if work on stadia is not found to be satisfactory, he added.

If stadia are ready as per norms and in time, the World Cup games will be played in Kochi as well in other four cities. The World Cup will start in 27 months' time and other venues confirmed are Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Goa.

Also the preliminary games of six group stages will be held at five venues, as per FIFA. Four training grounds of international standards will be needed for the preliminary matches in Kochi. Fort Kochi Veli Ground, Panampilly Nagar High School Maidan, Maharaja's College Stadium have been shortlisted for the group stage games..

Tony Chammany (Kochi Mayor) and Maharaja College authorities have handed over training ground agreement to FIFA in presence of Ceppi, tournament project director Joy Bhattacharjee, venue operations chief Roma Khanna and GDCA chairman N Venugopal.

Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) Ground at Panangad may be the fourth training ground for the group stage games. State government's Nodal Officer for World Cup Mohammed Hanish said that due to misunderstandings the agreement for the ground could not be handed over to FIFA on time. He confirmed that the agreement will be handed over to FIFA by June 1.

India will in a historic occassion make it's World Cup debut in the tournament. This is the first ever time that the countryis hosting a FIFA World Cup tournament. As hosts, India have automatic entry into the tournament. It is the first time ever that India will be playing in a FIFA tournament. 

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