The 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup will take place in Qatar, marking a historic moment as the tournament expands to include 48 teams for the first time. Starting on November 3, the competition will run until the final on November 27, with matches spread across multiple venues in the country, including the 45,000-seat Khalifa International Stadium in Doha. This marks the first time the U-17 World Cup will feature such a large number of teams, a significant change from the previous 24-team format.
Tournament Format and Teams
The tournament will feature 12 groups of four teams each, with 104 matches in total. Each group will have its top two teams advancing to the knockout stages, while the eight best third-place teams will also make it through. The knockout rounds will begin on November 14, and matches that end in a draw will be decided by penalty shootouts.
The 48 participating teams are spread across 12 groups:
- Group A: Qatar, Italy, South Africa, Bolivia
- Group B: Japan, Morocco, New Caledonia, Portugal
- Group C: Senegal, Croatia, Costa Rica, United Arab Emirates
- Group D: Argentina, Belgium, Tunisia, Fiji
- Group E: England, Venezuela, Haiti, Egypt
- Group F: Mexico, South Korea, Ivory Coast, Switzerland
- Group G: Germany, Colombia, North Korea, El Salvador
- Group H: Brazil, Honduras, Indonesia, Zambia
- Group I: USA, Burkina Faso, Tajikistan, Czechia
- Group J: Paraguay, Uzbekistan, Panama, Ireland
- Group K: France, Chile, Canada, Uganda
- Group L: Mali, New Zealand, Austria, Saudi Arabia
Key Match Fixtures
The group stage will begin on November 3 with two opening matches: South Africa vs Bolivia and Costa Rica vs the United Arab Emirates. Over the course of the group stage, each team will play three matches in a round-robin format.
Notable Fixtures:
- 3 November:
- South Africa vs Bolivia (3:30 pm, Aspire Zone)
- Costa Rica vs United Arab Emirates (3:30 pm, Aspire Zone)
- 4 November:
- Brazil vs Honduras (3:30 pm, Aspire Zone)
- England vs Venezuela (6:15 pm, Aspire Zone)
- 5 November:
- USA vs Burkina Faso (6:15 pm, Aspire Zone)
- France vs Chile (6:45 pm, Aspire Zone)
The group stage will run until November 11, after which the knockout stage will begin on November 14.
Knockout Stage
Once the group stage concludes, the top two teams from each group, plus the eight best third-place finishers, will progress to the knockout stage. This stage will see the traditional elimination format, with matches going straight to penalties if the scores are level after regular time.
Key Dates:
- Round of 16: 18 November
- Quarterfinals: 21 November
- Semifinals: 24 November
- Third-place playoff: 27 November
- Final: 27 November, at Khalifa International Stadium, Doha
Conclusion
The 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup promises to be a thrilling spectacle, with expanded participation and high-stakes matches leading to an exciting final on November 27. The tournament will not only showcase emerging football talent from around the world but also highlight Qatar’s growing role in hosting major international sporting events.
For more details on Qatar’s sports infrastructure and development, read about the country’s latest investments.
