New Delhi: Buoyed after the country was awarded the 2017 Under-17 FIFA World Cup hosting rights, the All India Football Federation is set to bid for the 2015 and 2016 editions of the Club World Championships.
AIFF President Praful Patel told a press conference here on Monday that India has already communicated to the world football governing body FIFA its expression of interest to host the Club World Championships in 2015 and 2016.
FIFA awards Club World Championships to a host country for two consecutive years and Morocco will host the event this and next year.
“We have officially put our request for 2015 and 2016 Club World Cup. We have made official communication to FIFA. I am going to meet FIFA officials in Switzerland next month to pursue India’s case to host the prestigious tournament,” Patel said at a press conference called to officially announce India’s successful bid to host the Under-17 World Cup in 2017.
India was on Thursday awarded the right to host the Under-17 World Cup in 2017.
“We have been awarded the 2017 Under-17 World Cup and if we get to host the Club World Championships in 2015 and 2016, then I feel it will be a completely paradigm shift in Indian football,” he said.
“Moreover, it will be good to hold a FIFA tournament of the scale of a Club World Championship before the Under-17 World Cup in 2017,” he added.
If India gets the hosting rights of the Club World Championships, I-League champion team will also take part in the tournament.
“FIFA Executive Board will decide on the host country for the 2015 and 2016 Club World Championships in the middle of next year. We have to ensure that we have a good bid. I feel we have a good case.”
Unlike the 24-nation Under-17 FIFA World Cup which will need at least six stadiums, the Club World Championships will require only a couple of venues as only eight matches will be played on knock-out basis among seven teams.
Since its inception in 2000, Japan has hosted the Club World Championship six times including the last edition. United Arab Emirates have hosted twice (2009 and 2010) after Brazil hosted the inaugural edition.
Under the current format, the host nation’s champion team takes on the Oceania champions in a play-off. The winner joins the champions of Asia, Africa and North America at the quarter-finals. The quarter-final winners go on to face the European and South American champions, who enter at the semi-final stage.
Talking about the Under-17 FIFA World Cup in 2017, Patel said getting the prestigious tournament was a tough task.
“It has not been an easy task to get the hosting rights. Right from getting assurances and guarantees from the Central and state governments, it has been a tough job. These assurances and guarantees were absolute and uncompromisable,” he said. (PTI)