FIFA U17 WC: India players meet parents before Cup debut

It was an emotional meeting with their parents, many of whom struggled to make ends meet. The meeting at the Lalit hotel was arranged by the All India Football Federation (AIFF).

The Indian U-17 football team poses for a group photograph during a training session ahead of their match against the USA in the FIFA U-17 World Cup in New Delhi.

Players of India’s U-17 World Cup squad on Friday met their parents at the team hotel, hours before the nation’s debut in the premier FIFA tournament. It was an emotional meeting with their parents, many of whom struggled to make ends meet. The meeting at the Lalit hotel was arranged by the All India Football Federation (AIFF).

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“The AIFF gave us time to meet the players at team hotel today. My parents were happy and got emotional while meeting Amarjit. We have not met him for a long time,” India captain Amarjit Singh’s elder brother, Umakanta, told PTI. “Parents of almost all the players were there, except for one or two,” said Umakanta, who came with his parents and his sister.

The team members had, on Sunday, said the presence of their families during the matches will motivate them to perform better.

India begins its campaign by taking on USA at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Friday evening. India, hosting its first ever FIFA tournament, is clubbed in Group A alongside Colombia, Ghana and USA.