Delighted with India's ability to host marquee events, and especially with the recent successes of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Sheikh Salman Al Khalifa commented that FIFA and the continental body of the sport want the country to hold more tournaments.
The recently-concluded U-17 World Cup was hosted across three cities – Bhubaneswar, Goa, and Navi Mumbai – with the AFC President attending the summit clash between Colombia and Spain at the DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday, October 30.
Speaking to the AIFF, the AFC President was appreciative of India's efforts to host the U-17 World Cup, and commended the country's role in promoting Asian Football, “FIFA and AFC want to focus on India to host more future events, and over the last few years since I’ve taken over at the AFC, I think India has played a big role in Asian football."
"You have hosted two World Cups and the Senior Women’s AFC Asian Cup here. India is a major country in Asia and hopefully, it can take its position at the same level in football, in the coming years."
Sheikh Salman also extended the AFC’s full support towards the growth of Indian football. “I’ve met the new management here, and I will always give all the support I can for India to succeed as a footballing nation. India’s success will be our success in Asia,” he added.
Sheikh Salman arrived in Mumbai on Friday evening, along with AFC General Secretary Datuk Windsor John, and Deputy General Secretary Vahid Kardany, and met AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey, Secretary General Shaji Prabhakaran, Treasurer Kipa Ajay and the Executive and Technical Committee members.
The AFC President feels that India has a greater chance for success in the future. “India has taken great strides in recent times, but the pace could be even faster. Of course, the COVID pandemic has not helped in the last two years, and that was not just in India. There will always be challenges, be it COVID or other things, but I think the determination is there from all stakeholders to progress."
