U17 World Cup: Fan boost for UAE ahead of Brazil clash

UAE’s rising stars took time off from training on Saturday (October 19) to greet fans at the FIFA U-17 World Cup Fan Zone on Abu Dhabi Corniche.

The U-17 team headed down to the Fan Zone to join the crowds for huge tournament celebrations just ahead of taking on three-time champions, Brazil, at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium today (October 20) at 8pm.

UAE team captain, Humaid Salmein, was happy to meet hundreds of their supporters and said: "The Fan Zone is a fantastic way to celebrate this amazing tournament in the UAE and I am so glad we took time off today to have some fun and meet with football fans in Abu Dhabi.
“The amount of support we have been getting since the tournament started is incredible and I hope we see each and every person that we met here at our match against Brazil today!"

UAE’s U-17s spent an action packed hour at the Fan Zone where they took fans on for a game of football, gave away UAE v Brazil match tickets to hundreds of lucky football-mad youngsters and posed for photos with some of the UAE team’s loyal fans before they left.

Speaking ahead of one of the biggest Group Stage matches for the UAE team Coach Rashid said: "The UAE team are ready for tonight’s challenge and the players are looking forward to giving it their best on the pitch in front of thousands of UAE supporters. Fan support at the opening match against Honduras was extraordinary and we hope to see bigger numbers at Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium today."

Running from 17th October – 8th November 2013, the event takes place across six cities of the UAE. A total of 52 matches will be played over a three week period in six of the UAE’s top stadiums – Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, Emirates Stadium in Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah Stadium in Fujairah, Sharjah Stadium in Sharjah, Rashid Stadium in Dubai and Khalifa Bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain.

The final 24 qualified nations will begin the tournament in six groups of four, with the top two teams in each group automatically qualifying for the Round of 16. The four best third-placed teams from the Group stages will also progress to the knock-out stages, all aiming to reach the final match on Friday 8th November 2013.

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