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The official presentation of Maldonado as one of the three host cities for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Uruguay 2018 could not have had a more fitting context or setting.
The event took place on Wednesday, August 15 in the VIP Room of the Estadio Domingo Burgueno Miguel after a friendly game in which Uruguay’s U-17 women recorded a 2-1 win over the runners-up of the last World Cup in this category, Japan.
As it happens, Japan will be one of the four Group B sides who will see action during the tournament at this very stadium, where a total of six fixtures will be staged.
The other four sides in that section will be Mexico, Brazil and South Africa. Maldonado will also host Uruguay’s final group game against Finland.
“We’re very excited that the World Cup is being organised by a country that supports its young footballers. This environment will surely help all the competing teams to flourish,” said Sarai Bareman, FIFA’s Chief Women’s Football Officer, in a message read by the master of ceremonies.
“The departmental government of Maldonado has been supporting soccer schools for girls for some time,” said Valentina Prego, coordinator of the Local Organising Committee of Uruguay 2018 and president of the Women’s Football Commission of the Uruguayan Football Association.
“We know that women’s football is still underdeveloped, but hopefully the World Cup can be the catalyst for change and that it can have the same development opportunities as the men’s game,” she added to the more than 150 people present.
Also in attendance were the Intendant of Maldonado, Engineer Enrique Antia; the Japanese consul Tonomi Kawaze; and the players from the two teams that contested the friendly.
“Maldonado is a city with a great deal of history and we’ve been very well received here,” said Japan coach Naoki Kusunose. “It is also a country with a lot of footballing tradition. In fact, it organised the very first World Cup, so I’m sure it will put on a great U-17 Women’s World Cup,” he added.
Montevideo and Colonia del Sacramento will be the other two host cities at the U-17 World Cup, which runs from Tuesday, November 13 until Sunday, December 1.
