FIFA U-17 World Cup: Today’s Football Matches Schedule, fixtures, Online Football Streaming, TV coverage, time in IST

India U-17 team take on USA in their opening game. (Source: AIFF)

FIFA U-17 World Cup kicks off on October 6 after years of preparations boiling down to the kick of the ball in Navi Mumbai and New Delhi at the same time. Later, two more games will be played at these venues to round off day one and to properly assess country’s preparations and how the action unfolded on the pitch including that of the hosts.

Group A

Colombia vs Ghana – 5 PM

India vs USA – 8 PM

Group B

New Zealand vs Turkey – 5 PM

Paraguay vs Mali – 8 PM

TALKING POINTS

# India versus USA is the marquee game. It is India’s first game at a FIFA event across all age categories.

# Keeping the recent form in mind, Ghana start as favourites against Colombia. Despite winning just three in eight in the Under-17 South American Championship, they made it through courtesy a third place finish.

# Call it mind games or simple reality check but New Zealand coach Danny Hay has already said they have “no chance” to beat Turkey.

# In the absence of two time defending champions Nigeria, Mali and Ghana hold the flag for the African continent at this FIFA U-17 World Cup. Mali are the reigning African champions and hope to take the continental title to the global stage. However, don’t rule out Paraguay with the colts well acclimatised to the Indian conditions by now

QUICK GROUP PREVIEWS

Group A
India, USA, Colombia and Ghana
India’s dream of a maiden Fifa tournament has finally materialised, albeit at the Under-17 level. But the hosts need a miracle to get past the group stage. USA have been playing this tournament since 1985, reaching quarterfinals four times and finishing fourth in 1999. Colombia have secured a fourth place finish twice in this tournament, while Ghana are two-time champions.

Group B
Paraguay, Mali, New Zealand and Turkey
Mail finished runners-up in 2015. The Mali colts will bring flair to the pitch, in a country where they might get an opportunity to see their beloved Bollywood stars, Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan to be precise, in the flesh.

Group C
Iran, Guinea, Germany and Costa Rica
Germany are the blue riband team here, although they are yet to win this tournament. Germany were the runners-up in 1985 and finished third in 2007 and 2011. In 2007, they threw up a talent answering to the name of Toni Kroos. Watch out for their captain Jan Fiete-Arp. Also, watch out for Costa Rica in this group – a team that reached quarterfinals four times on the bounce from 2001 to 2007.

Group D
Korea DPR, Niger, Brazil and Spain
Brazil and Spin are the show-stoppers. But there’s confusion over Vinicius Junior’s participation. According to reports, Junior’s club Flamengo hasn’t allowed the youngster to travel to India for the U-17 World Cup. Valued at over £39 million by Real Madrid, the young forward’s absence would be big let-down for the Indian fans.

Group E
Honduras, Japan, New Caledonia and France
Watch out for the Japanese Messi, Takefusa Kubo, who couldn’t join Barcelona because the club faced a transfer ban. And remember France are the former champions and also won the U-17 European Championship two years ago. Striker Amine Gouiri of Lyon top-scored in the 2017 U-17 Euro.

Group F
Iraq, Mexico, Chile and England
England are the marquee team, boasting of the young trinity – Angel Gomes, Phil Foden and Jadon Sancho. But lest we forget, Mexico are the two-time champions in this tournament.