Brazil, Chile, Paraguay qualify for U-17 World Cup
NEW DELHI: Football powerhouse Brazil, Chile and Paraguay on Friday qualified for the Under-17 FIFA World Cup to be held in India in October from the South American qualifying tournament in Chile. The three countries have secured three of the four CONMEBOL tickets on offer to the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017 with a match to spare at the South American U-17 Championship in Chile.
The South American U-17 Championship was being held at three cities of Chile.
Colombia are the favourites to take the fourth slot as they need just a point on the final matchday on Sunday to finish ahead of Ecuador and Venezuela and qualify for the U-17 flagship event to be held in India from October 6-28.
Paraguay were the first to seal passage after they beat Venezuela 3-1. Chile then earned qualification with a 1-0 victory over Ecuador. Brazil, meanwhile, blanked Colombia 3-0 to confirm their ticket to India. Brazil’s win left them on top of six-team final stage league table with 10 points, followed by Chile (9 points), Paraguay (8), Colombia (4), Ecuador (1) and Venezuela (1). Each team is left with one match each to be played on Sunday.
FIFA SUSPENDS MALI
ZURICH: FIFA says it has suspended Mali’s teams and officials from international soccer because of government interference in how the federation is run. Mali’s World Cup qualifying programme will not be immediately affected. Its next match is Aug. 28 at Morocco.
Both Malian teams in the 2017 African Champions League were already eliminated.
FIFA says it acted after Mali’s sports minister “decided to dissolve the executive committee” of the national soccer federation.
FIFA rules protect the independence of elected soccer officials from political intervention.