Indian Sports ministry is giving away more than 27,000 free tickets for the upcoming U17 Fifa world cup. Last time India hosted a major sport was during common wealth games when the empty stands caused a great embarrassment to India. To avoid this the ticket prices were placed at less than a dollar and still have been unable to fill even half of the 56,000 capacity Jawaharlal Nehru stadium.

The event organizers are in peak desperation to ensure the stadium is packed to the core when Indian boys take on United States in the opening match which will be presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. More than 27000 seats have been given away for free to adjacent schools and colleges in order to give a houseful look.