While the female version of the under-17 football World Cup is set to kick off on Tuesday in Auckland, Nigeria has pulled out of hosting the 2009 men's version due to the financial crisis.
The African nation's government rejected a budget of $527.5 million put forward by the local organising committee as too large.
Information Minister John Odey says government alone cannot bear the cost and they're prioritising the country's needs.
The withdrawal of Nigeria, the world's eighth-biggest oil exporter, came barely a week after President Umaru Yar'Adua said hosting the championship would help promote sports in the football-mad country.
