FIFA U-17 World Cup: Chile national team arrives in Kolkata

Chile has been clubbed with Iraq, Mexico and England in Group F.

Members of the Chile team pose for a photograph on their arrival in Kolkata, for the Under-17 football World Cup, on Sunday. Photo: Special Arrangement

Close on the heels of the Durga Puja celebrations, the football crazy City of Joy got ready to soak in the spirit of the under-17 football World Cup by welcoming the 21-member Chile team, which landed at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport here at 8.20 a.m. on Sunday.

Chile, the host of the previous edition of the mega age group event, has been clubbed with Iraq, Mexico and England in Group F. All the matches of the group will be held at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium) here from October 8 and Chile, coached by Hernan Caputo, will open its campaign against England at 5 p.m. on that day.

This will be Chile’s fourth appearance in the under-17 World Cup. It first played the tournament in 1993 in Japan, where it earned a creditable third place finish. It remains as Chile’s best finish ever in the prestigious event.

Chile could not go beyond the group stage in the 1997 edition in Egypt and made it to the last 16 when it hosted the event in 2015.

On its own soil, Chile came second behind Brazil in the South American under-17 championship to make it to the World Cup in India.

Studded with capable forwards such as Ignacio Mesias and Pedro Campos, the Chile side is expected to put up a good show in the event.

The squad

Goalkeepers: Julio Borquez, Rodrigo Cancino, Hugo Araya

Defenders: Gaston Zuniga, Matias Silva, Lucas Alarcon, Sebastian Valencia, Yerco Oyanedel, Nicolas Aravena;

Midfielders: Martin Lara, Mauricio Morales, Oliver Rojas, Branco Provoste, Maximiliano Guerrero;

Forwards: William Gama, Ignacio Contreras, Ignacio Mesias, Diego Valencia, Jairo Vasquez, Pedro Campos, Antonio Diaz O'Higgins.