As it stands, the FIFA U-17 and U-20 competitions are played every 2 years with 24 teams for the men and 16 teams for the women’ editions.

FIFA will now consider merging the two competitions with the men’s tournament increased to 48 teams and the women’s to 24, to be played every year instead of biennially.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the idea will be debated and discussed further by FIFA and will come into effect from 2020 if approved.

“The idea would be to have an increased number of participants to 48 for the boys and 24 for the women. And instead of having an U-17 and an U-20, we would now have one age category competition which could be U-18 or an U-19 that will be played on an annual basis instead of every two years,” Gianni Infantino said at a press briefing after the FIFA Council meeting in Kolkata, India where the FIFA U-17 World Cup is currently taking place.

Infantino also revealed that FIFA will consider co-hosting for the proposed new format to give smaller associations the ability to still be able to bid for hosting rights.

“Of course with such high number of teams, we’re looking at co-hosting in order to give the possibility to smaller associations around the world to be able to host the competition together with others,” he said.

Spain and England are set to contest the FIFA U-17 World Cup final on Saturday.

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By: Fentuo Tahiru/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post FIFA to consider merging U-17 and U-20 World Cups appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Since moving to Stamford Bridge from Newcastle United in January 2013, the Senegal international has scored 14 goals in 51 games for the Blues.

The 29-year-old soon fell behind Fernando Torres and Samuel Eto’o in the pecking order, however, and the arrival of Diego Costa from Atletico Madrid this summer has freed him to look for a new club.

Besiktas confirmed the move on with a statement on their website before Ba followed suit via his official Twitter page.
“I feel so happy because Besiktas fans interest me a lot and the construction of the new stadium impressed me,” Ba added. “I’m so excited to play for this club.

“I really want to play. I want to show my potential to everybody quickly.

“Besiktas is a big club and I want to be a part of this. The fans were  very warm to me when I arrived here. I hope our close relationship will go on.”

Eto’o has since left the club, while the future of Romelu Lukaku continues to be speculated upon after two season-long loan deals.

The Belgium international, who scored one goal at the World Cup, insists he will not settle for irregular first-team football this season and is open to leaving Chelsea permanently.

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Source: Goal.com

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