Sideline Sid Sports correspondant & historian www.sunlive.co.nz

After six weeks of wall-to-wall coverage on television, radio and the print media, the 2015 Cricket World Cup is over.

And while the Black Caps stumbled at the last hurdle to let the Green and Gold brigade from over the ditch get their hands on the trophy, we should all rejoice at the ride our boys gave us on the way to the MCG decider.

While the memories of the Black Caps' journey are already starting to fade, there is a world class football event coming to a stadium near you in just over eight weeks time.

The FIFA Under-20 World Cup kicks-off on May 30, with the opening game between tournament hosts New Zealand and Ukraine at Auckland's North Harbour Stadium.

While Sideline Sid only has a passing interest in the oval ball game, this is big potatoes on the world sporting scene, with the Under-20 World Cup bowing only to the FIFA World Cup in status and prestige.

Calling upon my very good friend Mr Google, I found out that this year's tournament is the 20th edition of the age-group contest since its inception in 1977 as the FIFA World Youth Championships.

While the competition was staged in Australia in 1981 and 1993, it is the first time its been allocated to New Zealand

The Under-20 event runs from the opening games on the May 30 until the final in Auckland on the June 20. Eight venues are being utilised across the country in Whangarei, Auckland, Hamilton, New Plymouth, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.

Such is the cut-throat nature of the 24-team competition, that defending champions France were eliminated in the qualifying competition, with the only direct entry being hosts New Zealand.

However, it was selection of the Waikato Stadium in Hamilton as a tournament venue that grabbed Sideline Sid's attention.

Over the years, the tournament has produced many of football's superstars, and it is too good an opportunity to turn down to travel over the hill to watch the next crop of emerging stars. In the past, players such as Messi and Maradona have dazzled the crowds at Under-20 World Cups.

While the majority of heavyweights of world football are coming to our shores, there are also a number of not so well known sides taking part, having qualified through their respective confederations.

Joining sides such as Argentina, Brazil Germany and Mexico are some lesser lights such as Mynamar (formerly known as Burma), Qatar and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea).

There are few better stadiums in the country than the Waikato arena, where you can almost get up close and personal with the players from the multitude of seating.

While Hamilton is hosting Group C, which features Columbia, Qatar, Senegal and Portugal, the round of 16 and quarter-final games allocated to the Waikato Stadium could see some of the tournament favourites in action in the Waikato.

Any genuine Western Bay sporting fan worth their salt will be at one of the eight games in the Waikato.

See ya at the Under-20 World Cup.