<p>Bengaluru is still in the running to host the matches in the 2017 FIFA Under-17 World Cup and Sree Kanteerava Stadium is a likely venue, according to FIFA officials.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Tournament Director Javier Ceppi, speaking at a media briefing in New Delhi, said all the eight cities shortlisted for the tournament are still in fray. <br /><br />“Most of the venues we are using are existing ones and we will improve and upgrade them. We now have eight host cities of New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Kochi, Guwahati, Margao, Bengaluru and Pune, plus Chennai, which has come into the picture. These venues will be inspected by the FIFA team. No venue is ruled out yet though six will be selected finally,” Ceppi said. <br /><br />Ceppi also informed that if Bangalore will have to host the matches, Karnataka State Football Association’s stadium with the artificial turf will not be the venue. There is a plan to construct a new stadium at the same spot after the current Football Stadium is demolished.<br /><br />“If at all Bangalore host matches, it can be either Sree Kanteerava Stadium or the one which is proposed to be built by a private body. But it will have to pass FIFA guidelines and FIFA inspection team will take a call,” he said.<br /><br />JSW Group were supposed to build the stadium but the deal fell through after their conditions -- including sub-leasing of the venue -- were found unacceptable to the KSFA. The State association was now in the process of finding a way out. “We are working towards that with the involvement of the government, details will emerge soon,” KSFA President A R Khaleel said.<br />Ceppi said if a stadium can be built quickly, it still can host the World Cup matches. “It can be, if it is built soon enough. A stadium which is going to host 2015 Under-17 World Cup in Chile was built in six months,” he said.<br /><br /></p>
<p>Bengaluru is still in the running to host the matches in the 2017 FIFA Under-17 World Cup and Sree Kanteerava Stadium is a likely venue, according to FIFA officials.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Tournament Director Javier Ceppi, speaking at a media briefing in New Delhi, said all the eight cities shortlisted for the tournament are still in fray. <br /><br />“Most of the venues we are using are existing ones and we will improve and upgrade them. We now have eight host cities of New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Kochi, Guwahati, Margao, Bengaluru and Pune, plus Chennai, which has come into the picture. These venues will be inspected by the FIFA team. No venue is ruled out yet though six will be selected finally,” Ceppi said. <br /><br />Ceppi also informed that if Bangalore will have to host the matches, Karnataka State Football Association’s stadium with the artificial turf will not be the venue. There is a plan to construct a new stadium at the same spot after the current Football Stadium is demolished.<br /><br />“If at all Bangalore host matches, it can be either Sree Kanteerava Stadium or the one which is proposed to be built by a private body. But it will have to pass FIFA guidelines and FIFA inspection team will take a call,” he said.<br /><br />JSW Group were supposed to build the stadium but the deal fell through after their conditions -- including sub-leasing of the venue -- were found unacceptable to the KSFA. The State association was now in the process of finding a way out. “We are working towards that with the involvement of the government, details will emerge soon,” KSFA President A R Khaleel said.<br />Ceppi said if a stadium can be built quickly, it still can host the World Cup matches. “It can be, if it is built soon enough. A stadium which is going to host 2015 Under-17 World Cup in Chile was built in six months,” he said.<br /><br /></p>
