FIFA World Youth Championship 2003
Tournament to be played in UAE from 27 November – 19 December
In accordance with a decision taken by the Executive Committee at its last meeting on 6 – 7 March 2003, mandating the FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter and his AFC counterpart Mohamed Bin Hammam to find suitable dates for the rescheduling of the FIFA World Youth Championship 2003, consultations have taken place in recent weeks with the United Arab Emirates Football Association and Jack A. Warner, chairman of the Organising Committee for the FIFA World Youth Championship.
Having taken everything into account, FIFA and the Local Organising Committee have decided to hold the FIFA World Youth Championship United Arab Emirates 2003 from 27 November – 19 December.
I am delighted that FIFA will be able to hold this major tournament in the UAE as originally planned. The Local Organising Committee has worked so hard to guarantee the success of the event that it would have been unfair to move it elsewhere. I would like to thank the United Arab Emirates Football Association and its President for the cooperation, understanding, trust and support in recent weeks,” commented Joseph S. Blatter.
24 teams will take part in the event:
Group A
UAE
Slovakia
Panama
Burkina Faso
Group B
Argentina
Spain
Uzbekistan
Mali
Group C
Brazil
Canada
Czech Rep
Australia
Group D
Colombia
Egypt
Japan
England
Group E
Saudi Arabia
Ireland Rep.
Mexico
Cote D’Ivoire
Group F
Paraguay
USA
Korea Republic
Germany