FIFA Women's Under-17 WC: India start campaign with 0-8 defeat to USA

This thrashing has put India at the bottom of Group A while the USA is at the top

USA players celebrate after scoring a goal against India at the Kalinga stadium in FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2022 in Bhubaneswar.  | Photo Credit: BISWARANJAN ROUT

Indian under-17 women’s football team started their FIFA under-17 Women’s World Cup 2022 campaign with a 0-8 defeat to the USA in their campaign opener at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday, which is Indian women’s football team’s biggest defeat in under-17 category.

This thrashing has put India at the bottom of Group A while the USA is at the top. In the other Group A match, Brazil managed a narrow 1-0 win over Morocco and is at second place.

Melina Rebimbas (9', 31') scored a brace while Charlotte Kohler (14'), Onyeka Gamero (24'), Gisele Thompson (38'), Ella Emri (52'), Taylor Suarez (58' P), and Mia Bhuta (60') also managed to get goals over India. It is USA's biggest win at the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup.

"FULL-TIME! Tonight's action in Bhubaneswar draws to a close. FT Score: 0-8 #INDUSA #U17WWC #BackTheBlue #ShePower #IndianFootball," tweeted official Twitter handle of AIFF.

Notably, Union Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Anurag Thakur attended the opening ceremony of the FIFA U-17 Women's Football World Cup India 2022 at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar.

The minister also watched the match between India and USA. Union Minister for Education, Skill Development, and Entrepreneurship Dharmendra Pradhan and Minister for Law and Justice Kiren Rijiju also attended the inaugural ceremony of the World Cup.

"A historic moment for Indian Sports as India hosts the FIFA #U17WWC for the very first time. My heart is filled with pride as our U17 women footballers line up for their first-ever FIFA World Cup match. I urge the entire nation to come together and support our girls Jai Hind," tweeted the minister.

India is hosting the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup 2022, organised at three venues.

The matches will be played at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, PJN Stadium in Goa, and DY Patil Sports Stadium in Navi Mumbai.

As many as 16 nations will be taking part in the grand sporting event which will continue till October 30. The seventh edition of the prestigious tournament has four groups - A, B, C and D - and Navi Mumbai is set to host the grand final on October 30.

The FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup India 2022 will see three former champions in France, Japan, and Spain take the field. Canada, Germany, and New Zealand - along with Japan - will continue their proud record of participating in every edition of this spectacle. Hosts India are the debutants in this edition of the World Cup.

After boys in 2017, it is now the turn of India's U-17 women's team to make it big in the tournament.