After carefully assessing the ongoing effects of the pandemic, FIFA announced on Tuesday that the tournament in India would be delayed by a year, with new dates set for February 17 to March 7.
While the competition was first intended to take place from November 2 to 21 this year, the global shutdown caused by the coronavirus necessitated a delay. Despite the shift in timing, FIFA is sticking to the original age brackets, allowing athletes born between the start of 2003 and the end of 2005 to participate.
FIFA stated that the new schedule was approved by the Council Bureau following a deep dive into the pandemic's disruptions and advice from the specialized COVID-19 Working Group. The event will see 16 national teams battle it out across five Indian cities—Navi Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bhubaneswar, Guwahati, and Kolkata—marking the first time the Indian women's U-17 team will compete on this stage.
The Local Organizing Committee (LOC) is excited to announce that the U17WWC will now take place from February 17 to March 7, 2021. These dates were chosen not only to provide the best possible environment in India but also to ensure there is enough time for the qualifying rounds in Europe, North & Central America, Africa, Oceania, and South America to be completed.
The global health emergency halted five remaining qualifying tournaments across Africa, Europe, Oceania, South America, and the CONCACAF region. Looking ahead, the LOC is eager to deliver a fantastic tournament that serves as a catalyst for the growth and development of women's football throughout India.
The host cities have already put in an immense amount of work and preparation. There is a general feeling of optimism that this new timeline will allow organizers to overcome recent hurdles and build fresh momentum. The initial schedule had been released back in February, with Navi Mumbai designated as the site for the finals.