Emirati football star, Omar Abdulrahman, has been officially appointed by the Local Organising Committee (LOC) as the tournament ambassador for the Fifa U-17 World Cup UAE 2013, which takes place from October 17 to November 8. The signing of the UAE and Al Ain Football Club midfielder is considered an invaluable addition to the promotion of the event on both a regional and international scale. As tournament ambassador Abdulrahman will support both Fifa and LOC’s efforts in marketing the tournament and will also be lending his support to the UAE U-17 team during the build-up to the tournament. Tournament Director, Mohammed Abdulla bin Bdoua, is delighted to welcome Omar on-board and is confident that the Emirati star has what it takes to advocate the tournament globally. “The Fifa U-17 World Cup has undoubtedly been the birthplace of many of today’s football legends – the likes of Ronaldinho (Brazil), Luis Figo (Portugal), Alessandro Del Piero (Italy) and many more started their careers playing at under 17 level. Omar will play a significant role in the legacy of this event which goes far beyond the UAE’s stadiums.” Abdulrahman is ready to inspire fans around the GCC and pass on his invaluable knowledge to the UAE’s rising stars, especially after he made his mark at the London 2012 Olympic Games where his performance earned him widespread recognition in the first ever UAE U-23 qualification. Omar Abdulrahman commented, “It is really exciting to be appointed as the tournament ambassador for the FIFA U-17 World Cup – to be involved in the biggest football event in the history of the UAE is a real privilege. I have been lucky enough to play for the UAE since 2008 and have also represented this nation at the London 2012 Olympic Games so I’m very aware of the passion that exists for the game in the Emirates. I’m looking forward to meeting plenty of fans and aspiring players over the coming months, and want to transfer my knowledge and passion for the game to the next generation of football stars as much as possible. This is not only a tournament for all 24 qualifying teams; it’s the people’s tournament. Everyone from football fans to families is welcome to come down and support their nation. I can’t wait to see fans from all around the world fill up the stadiums of the UAE in October-November.” added the midfielder who was recently crowned both Emirati Player of the Year and Fans’ Player of the Year. With less than five months until the largest football event in the history of the UAE, attention turns to tickets for the competition which are expected to go on sale from June 2013. 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, Khalifa bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain, Emirates Stadium in Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah Stadium in Fujairah, Sharjah Stadium in Sharjah and Rashid Stadium in Dubai. 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. The official draw will take place on August 26, to determine the groups and group stage fixtures. For more information visit www.fifa.com/u17worldcup. Source: Khaleej Times