Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Abu Dhabi: The UAE will face one of the most successful nations in FIFA U-17 World Cup history, Brazil, after the 2013 hosts were grouped with the three-time champions at the tournament draw on Monday.
The teams were divided into four pots for the draw, with the continental champions from Europe, Africa, South America, Asia, North and Central America and the Caribbean all seeded, and the host nation assigned the seeded position as team one in Group A. The teams were then drawn into six groups of four.
In addition to facing the Brazilians, who have made it to the final four in seven of the 14 times they have taken part in the tournament since its inception in 1985, the UAE will also face Honduras and debutants Slovakia.
AFC U-16 Championship 2012 winners Uzbekistan, who reached the last eight in their global debut at the last U-17 World Cup in Mexico two years ago, have been pooled in Group C where they have Croatia, Morocco and Panama as contenders.
Japan, runners-up to the Uzbeks following their penalty shootout defeat in the 2012 continental final in Tehran, will battle it out against Tunisia, Venezuela and Russia in Group D, with the East Asians having twice reached the last eight at the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
Iran will be up against Canada, Austria and Argentina in Group E in their third appearance in the tournament while Asia’s remaining representative Iraq have been drawn into Group F alongside Mexico, Nigeria and Sweden in their first ever participation at the FIFA U-17 World Cup finals.
UAE 2013 marks the fourth time an Asian nation has hosted the competition following the inaugural tournament in China in 1985 and editions in Japan (1995) and Korea Republic (2007).
The tournament will take place from October 17 to November 8 and will feature 52 matches played in six host cities throughout the Emirates, namely: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Al Ain and Sharjah as well as Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah, both of whom displayed their organisational capabilities with their successful co-hosting of the 2012 AFC U-19 Championship in November last year.
FIFA U-17 World Cup – UAE 2013
Group A: UAE, Honduras, Brazil, Slovakia
Group B: Uruguay, New Zealand, Côte d'Ivoire, Italy
Group C: Croatia, Morocco, Panama, Uzbekistan
Group D: Tunisia, Venezuela, Russia, Japan
Group E: Canada, Austria, Iran, Argentina
Group F: Mexico, Nigeria, Iraq, Sweden
Photo: AFP