LA PAZ - World soccer head Gianni Infantino Thursday said he hoped one day Bolivia could host a youth World Cup although he did not specify which age group the World Cup is for.
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FIFA President Gianni Infantino smiles during a news conference at the Colombian Football Confederation headquarters n Bogota, Colombia, March 31, 2016. [Photo/Agencies] |
Infantino, newly elected president of soccer's world governing body FIFA, made the remarks on his trip to the country, one stop of his visit to South America.
"We are going to make all the necessary arrangements so that Bolivia will host a youth World Cup. We hope to make it happen," said Infantino during an award ceremony held during half time of a match he played with Bolivian President Evo Morales in the central city of Cochabamba.
Even though Infantino did not specify which age group or what year, he confirmed that FIFA would do all they could to grant Bolivia its wish of hosting a youth World Cup.
Previously Bolivian President Evo Morales had asked the FIFA president about the possibility of Bolivia hosting a World Cup in any category.
"Confidently I want to tell you that with this experience, we are prepared to guarantee this soccer World Cup in the men's or women's under 17 or under 20 sporting event. With great respect, my request, on behalf of the Bolivian people is a tribute to Bolivia's bicentenary (of Independence in 2025)," said Morales.
The Bolivian president is aware that organizing a World Cup event will mean that the country's soccer pitches will need to be improved and the teams will need to adapt to playing at higher altitudes.
Morales and Infatino played a goalless friendly match with their respective teams on Thursday morning in local soccer club Aurora's sports complex in Cochabamba. The match went to penalties where Infantino's team came out victorious.
Infantino, who arrived in Bolivia on Wednesday after visiting Paraguay and Uruguay, is now on his way to Colombia.
