"We are aspiring to host the Under-17 World Cup in 2017. We will bid for it at the FIFA Congress in Budapest. We are quite well-placed to put up a reasonably successful bid," said Patel at the official launch function of the federation's first regional academy, housed in Father Agnel's School in Navi Mumbai, near here.
The FIFA Congress is scheduled for May 24 and 25.
The Union Minister saw no hitch in the country developing a good-enough infrastructure in time.
"I don't see a problem (infrastructure-wise) once we get the bid," said Patel and cited the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi and the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata as examples of venues which can host the matches.
With the Netherlands Minister of Health, Welfare and Sports Edith Schippers in attendance, Patel sought more help from the Dutch to the AIFF's football development programme after its tie-up with Orange Sports Forum for running the academies.
"It's going to be a long haul and it is an expensive process but we are on the right path with the tie-ups with OSF and IMG-Reliance," Patel said.
More From This Section
According to its website, OSF is the initiative of a number of Dutch companies and institutions to support the sport and is a platform for the promotion of companies, organisations and institutions affiliated to Dutch sport.
AIFF's technical director Rob Baan said though a proper talent spotting process was absent in the country at present, a proper scouting system would be put in place soon in all the states.