This was the key question on the mind of tournament director Javier Cepp. He revealed this concern during his recent inspection of the Jawaharlal Nehru Fatorda stadium where he placed match attendance on par with infrastructure on the priority list. In fact, Goa has lost out to Navi Mumbai, Guwahati who will host the semi finals and Kolkata who will host the final. This decision was taken based on low attendance recorded during the AFC U-16 matches held in Goa.
While the state prides itself about its football glory and passion, the empty stadiums that mark football matches held in the state paint a sorry picture. With the country getting the privilege of hosting a tournament of this stature for the first time, there are doubts if Goans will show how important the Fifa World Cup is by showing up for games. This problem has plagued national tournaments like the I- League and other games held in Goa where none of the home teams are playing. Even in the Indian Super League (ISL), the interest in watching the game took a hit in its last season. The recent Santosh Trophy finals, where Goa played against Kerala held at GMC Bambolim stadium, had free entry- one of the reasons for the packed crowds. With the showpiece tournament taking place in October and Goa hosting at least eight matches, time will tell if Goa lives up to its reputation as a state that loves state.
