U-17 Youth Cup Knockout rounds to kick-off from January 23

NEW DELHI: The Round of 16 Draw for the U-17 Youth Cup was conducted here at the Football House on Friday after the end of all the Group Stage matches earlier the same day.

The draw was conducted by AIFF Secretary General Shaji Prabhakaran, Treasurer Kipa Ajay and Deputy Secretary General Sunando Dhar.

The Knockout Rounds of the Hero U-17 Youth Cup are set to be held at the Deccan Arena in Hyderabad, where 16 teams will fight it out for the top prize from January 23 onwards; the Final will be held on January 31.

A total of 49 teams had taken part in the U-17 Youth Cup Group Stage, where they were split into 10 groups. Garhwal FC, Techtro Swades United FC, Sreenidi Deccan FC, Rajasthan United FC, Muthoot Football Academy, Minerva Punjab FC, Classic Football Academy, Punjab State FA U-17 Team, Sudeva Delhi FC, and Zinc Football Academy qualified as the 10 group winners. Meanwhile, KR Football Leaders Club, Gandhinagar FC, Odisha FC, Corbett FC, Himalayan FC Kinnaur, and Chennaiyin FC have made it to the Round of 16 as the six best second-placed teams.

AIFF Secretary General Shaji Prabhakaran said, "The Knockout Rounds of the Hero U-17 Youth Cup is upon us, and we have seen some really competitive games so far. All the teams have witnessed great competition and some great talents in this tournament."

"My best wishes to all the teams that will travel to Hyderabad for the Knockout rounds. With your great work, we will see a brighter future for Indian Football. We can't wait to see some elite-level talent that will make India proud in the future," he said.