FIFA U-17 World Cup: Interesting facts and stats

The FIFA U-17 World Cup is less than two weeks away and the stage is for talented youngsters to announce themselves to the world. Not only is India hosting her first ever FIFA tournament, but also will be making their debut in this competition across all formats, male or female. 

Here are 14 interesting factoids about the World Cup which kicks off on October 6 in New Delhi and Mumbai simultaneously.

•  From 1985 to 2005, the FIFA U-17 World Cup featured 16 teams divided into four groups of four teams. Since 2007, the tournament was expanded to 24 teams.
• USA and Brazil share the record for most participants in the FIFA U-17 World Cup. Both of them are contesting their 16th U-17 World Cup in this edition.
• More editions of the U-17 World Cup have been held in Asia than in any other continent. The campaign in India will be the fifth after those staged in China (1985), Japan (1993), Korea Republic (2007) and United Arab Emirates (2013).
• Nigeria has won the tournament five times (1985, 1993, 2007, 2013, 2015). They are the most successful country, having also finished runners-up three times (1987, 2001, 2009). However, they failed to qualify for this India edition.
• Brazil has won thrice (1997, 1999, 2003) while Ghana (1991, 1995) and Mexico (2005, 2011) have done so twice. The then Soviet Union (1987), Saudi Arabia (1989), France (2001) and Switzerland (2009) have won the tournament once each.
• India are the 18th Asian team to take part in the U-17 World Cup. Three teams are making their debut in this India edition — Niger, New Caledonia as well as hosts India.
• A total of 12 players who have played in FIFA U-17 World Cup has also represented their countries in a FIFA World Cup Finals.
• Brazil’s Ronaldinho is the only player to have won both FIFA U-17 (1997) and FIFA World Cup Finals (2002) title.
• Out of those who have played both the FIFA U-17 World Cup and the FIFA World Cup, Mario Gotze (2009), Emanuel Petit and Andres Iniesta are the only three players to have scored in a FIFA World Cup Finals.
• Out of those who have played both the FIFA U-17 World Cup as well as the FIFA World Cup, Iker Casillas is the only one who has won FIFA World Cup as a captain (in 2010).
•  In 1987, 1989, 1999 and 2007, the final was decided on penalties. All other finals were decided in regular time.
• Two sides have netted over a century of goals in the U-17 World Cup, namely Brazil and Nigeria with 166 and 149 respectively. Spain are on 97 and could reach the 100 mark in India, along with Mexico (97), Germany (92) and Ghana (86).
• Only Brazil and Nigeria have successfully defended their title: Brazil (1997 in Egypt and 1999 in New Zealand) and Nigeria (2013 in the UAE and 2015 in Chile).
• An estimated global TV viewership of 200 million is expected in this edition. SONY TEN 2 and SONY TEN 3 are the official broadcasters and they will share its feed-in over 185 countries.