Ticket sales begin for U-17 FIFA Women’s World Cup

While dignitaries like chief guest for the event, Union minister for youth affairs & sports Anurag Thakur, national team captains Sunil Chhetri and Ashalata Devi, and several Indian legends of the game attended the event, it was former US women’s national team striker and two-time Olympic gold medalist, Lindsay Tarpley, who was the guest of honour. “I look at my experience personally going through the youth system and the impact it had on my personal development. And I now look at India’s opportunity to host U-17 World Cup and what an opportunity it is for the country to invest in the infrastructure of women’s soccer, to help little girls to grow up knowing they can be a female footballer,” Tarpley said during an exclusive interaction with TOI on Friday.

“It’s also a chance to start developing female leaders and females within the industry to make decisions to continue to help grow the game.” India’s current leader at the senior level, Ashalata, too, reiterated the need for supporting the women’s game at the ticket launch. “We need your support!” were the words of India’s defensive stalwart. However, the former leader of the US Olympic champions said the FIFA event would be the first step in a continuous process of development.

“It is step by step. One of the biggest things is exposure. And by having the opportunity to host a youth World Cup, a lot of people are going to see these incredible players on the world stage.