Sport: PNG says World Cup hosting proved sceptics wrong

12:28 pm on 6 December 2016

The Papua New Guinea Sports Minister says the country proved the sceptics wrong by hosting a successful FIFA Under 20 Women's World Cup.

The tournament concluded at the weekend with North Korea defeating France 3-1 in the final at Sir John Guise Stadium in Port Moresby, in front of a crowd of 14,752.

North Korea celebrate winning the FIFA Under 20 Women's World Cup in Port Moresby.

North Korea celebrate winning the FIFA Under 20 Women's World Cup in Port Moresby. Photo: Facebook / Hon Justin Tkatchenko MP

PNG were awarded hosting rights in March last year, beating out the rival bid from Sweden, but the Minister for Sports and National Events, Justin Tkatchenko, said football's world governing body weren't sure if they would be able to deliver.

"FIFA were the sceptical ones in the beginning that we could pull off this event to their standards and their criteria and we proved them wrong and they appreciated that," he said.

"They were very receptive to everything that was done. We went out of our way to ensure that this event - world event - was a success and it ended up with North Korea being the champions of the FIFA Under 20 Womens World Cup."

"Their scepticism was whether we could actually do it. They knew nothing about PNG - most of the countries thought Papua New Guinea was in Africa," said Tkatchenko.

PNG Sports Minister Justin Tkatchenko (L) watches on as North Korea receive the FIFA Under 20 Women's World Cup trophy.

PNG Sports Minister Justin Tkatchenko (L) watches on as North Korea receive the FIFA Under 20 Women's World Cup trophy. Photo: Facebook / Hon Justin Tkatchenko MP

"So the scenario is they didn't know our capacity, they didn't know our expertise, they didn't know whether our facilities would meet their criteria and everything that they gave for us to do we did and kept to the highest international standards that FIFA require.

"And now it's our job to ensure that what we have created and what we have spent on is maintained at that same level from now on.

"FIFA were at the end of the day very very happy - some were apologetic but at the end of of the day we pulled off this event with full flying colours for the benefit of our country and to host as well many more events into the future."

Justin Tkatchenko said an average of more than 100 million people watched the tournament around the world and the coverage was priceless exposure for Papua New Guinea.

Fireworks celebrate the end of the FIFA Under 20 Women's World Cup in Port Moresby.

Fireworks celebrate the end of the FIFA Under 20 Women's World Cup in Port Moresby. Photo: Facebook / Hon Justin Tkatchenko MP