FIFA Strips Peru of U-17 World Cup Hosting for Second Time

By: Gyang Dakwo

Peru has been stripped of the hosting of the U-17 World Cup for the second time by FIFA, who said there was not enough time to “secure the required investment and complete the necessary work” with the Peruvian government.

A statement from the football governing body reads:  “FIFA has regretfully withdrawn Peru’s hosting rights to the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2023 following extensive discussions between FIFA and the Peruvian Football Federation (FPF).

The tournament remains scheduled to take place from 10 November to 2 December 2023, but the Bureau of the FIFA Council will now designate a new host in due course.

The move was made given the inability of the host country to fulfill its commitments to completing the infrastructure required to stage the tournament. Despite a very positive working relationship between FIFA and the FPF, it has been determined that there is now not sufficient time to secure the required investment and complete the necessary work with the Peruvian government ahead of the tournament start date.

FIFA would like to express its thanks to the FPF for their efforts, and remains open to organising a competition in Peru in the future.”

Similarly, in 2019, FIFA removed the U-17 tournament from the Peruvians after inspection visits found issues with the prepared infrastructure and organisation. At the time Brazil came to the rescue and hosted the tournament.

FIFA said that the tournament remains scheduled to take place from 10 November to 2 December 2023 and that the Bureau of the FIFA Council (the heads of the six confederations plus the FIFA president) “will now designate a new host in due course.”

This is the second week in a row FIFA has had to strip a nation of the hosting rights to an age group World Cup.

Last week, FIFA removed the U-20 World Cup from Indonesia after the country’s politicians protested against Israel’s participation in the tournament scheduled to take place in May.