Hosting U-17 World Cup final huge gain for Kolkata: Bengal CM Mamata

Kolkata Aug 8 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said the state is looking forward to hosting the FIFA U-17 football World Cup final in two months time adding the magnitude of the event in itself is a huge gain for the city.

The colossal Salt Lake Stadium will witness the first-ever FIFA World Cup summit clash held in India on October 28 for which tickets during the third phase of sales have already been sold out.

"The U-17 World Cup final will be in Kolkata and it s a matter of great pride " Mamata said during her speech at the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) annual awards here.

"There will be 7-8 matches. Kolkata will get to see future stars of the world. Also stars of yesteryear like Maradona will grace the city. This is a huge gain for Kolkata.
Without sport life is incomplete " she added.

Kolkata will host five Group F matches and one Group E game involving Japan and New Caledonia. In Group F the teams are Chile England Mexico and Iraq.

The Salt Lake Stadium will also host one pre-quarterfinal a quarter-final third place game and the final.

--IANS
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