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With India hosting its first ever FIFA event, all eyes are set on the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, in New Delhi, where India take on USA. The matches will be played across six host cities around the country, with the final taking place at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, West Bengal. Twenty-three teams, besides the host India, managed to qualify for the tournament via participating in their various continental under-17 tournaments.
The 5 teams to watch out this FIFA U-17 world cup are over the next few slides.
5. India
India have never before qualified for any World Cup. However, they would be hoping to give it their best against the top sides, as they host their first FIFA event.
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They have been placed in Group A along with USA, Colombia and Ghana. The Indian Colts have qualified for the Asian Championship seven times and reached the quarter-finals once.
With the huge crowd supporting the Indian team, it would be interesting to see how the Colts perform at their first FIFA tournament.
Amarjit Singh Kiyam, Komal Thatal and Abhijit Sarkar are the key players to look forward at.
4. England
Having lost the 2017 European Championship to Spain in a penalty shoot-out, they're still the top contenders for the tournament. They have qualified for the fourth time and have reached the quarter finals twice before getting knocked out. Having won the European championship twice, they are the fourth favourite to win the tournament.
The Three Lions will play their first match against Chile and have been placed in group F with Iraq, Chile and Mexico.
3. Spain
After ending European Championship with a bang against England this year, Spain are the third favourite to take home their first FIFA U-17 world Cup trophy. They have qualified for the tournament for the eight time, having missed out the trophy thrice in the finals and twice in the semi-finals.
La Furia Roja (The Red Fury) headed by Santiago Denia would definitely be hoping to end their hunt this time.
Jaun Miranda, the Barcelona-B kid, Abel Ruiz and Sergio Gomez are the key players to look forward.
2. Mexico
Mexico are the second favourite to win the championship. Having qualified it for the 13th time, they have high chances of winning the tournament. They have won it twice and are looking hungrily for their third. They were recently crowned with the 2017 CONCACAF U-17 title, making it their seventh trophy.
Jario Torres, 2017 CONCACAF's best player of the tournament, has been included in the squad along with Roberto Rosa, Danie Lopez and Diego Lainez.
1. Brazil
After Nigeria, former champions, failed to qualify for the event, Brazil are the favourites to be crowned champions. Brazil have qualified the event for the 16th time, having won it on three occasions. Recently, Brazil were crowned as the 2017 South American U-17 champions. They have won the tournament on twelve such occasions.
Their defence is as strong as their attack. Yuri Alberto, Alan Souza, Bernner Souza, Paulinho and Lincoln Correa form the core of the Seleção.
A huge blow for them, however, is the fact that Vinicius Junior, Real Madrid's latest signing for the 2018-19 season, would not be able to play the tournament after he was barred to travel by his Brazil club Flamengo.
