The FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 will begin tomorrow with the host nation, Qatar, facing Italy in the opening match at 6:45 pm. The tournament will run for 25 days and take place across eight stadiums within the Aspire Academy, with 104 matches scheduled. Qatar is aiming to build on its best-ever performance of fourth place in 1991 and make a strong start in Group A, which also features South Africa and Bolivia.
Under the guidance of Spanish coach Alvaro Mejia, the Qatari team has undergone extensive preparations, including participation in friendly matches and tournaments. Most recently, the team took part in a training camp abroad, playing against Belgium, Croatia, and Ukraine. These matches, along with the GCC U-17 Cup held last month in Doha, were used to assess the squad’s readiness for the competition.
Group A Matches and More
The tournament’s opening day will feature eight matches. Bolivia, making its third appearance, will face South Africa at 3:30 pm on Aspire Field No. 3. Costa Rica, which is taking part for the 11th time, will meet the United Arab Emirates at 3:30 pm on Aspire Field No. 8. This marks the UAE’s fourth appearance in the competition.
Other exciting fixtures include Morocco, in its third World Cup appearance, against Japan, a team with a record ten participations, at 4:30 pm on Aspire Field No. 5. In the same group, Portugal, the 2025 European champion, will take on New Caledonia at 6:15 pm on Aspire Field No. 4. Tunisia, competing in its fourth U-17 World Cup, will face debutants Fiji at 6:45 pm on Aspire Field No. 8.
New Tournament Format
This edition introduces a major shift in FIFA’s youth tournaments. The competition now includes 48 teams, an increase from the previous 24. These 48 teams have been split into 12 groups of four, with the top two teams from each group, plus the eight best third-place finishers, advancing to the Round of 32. The knockout rounds will then proceed as normal, culminating in the final at Khalifa International Stadium on November 27.
The new format also changes the tournament’s frequency, with the event now being held annually, a departure from the previous biennial schedule. Qatar was seeded in Pot 1 as the host nation, and Group A, alongside Italy, South Africa, and Bolivia, will be its battleground.
The Teams
The 48 teams, allocated into four seeding pots based on recent U-17 World Cup performances, are as follows:
- Group A: Qatar (hosts), Italy, South Africa, Bolivia
- Group B: Japan, Morocco, New Caledonia, Portugal
- Group C: Senegal, Croatia, Costa Rica, UAE
- Group D: Argentina, Belgium, Tunisia, Fiji
- Group E: England, Venezuela, Haiti, Egypt
- Group F: Mexico, South Korea, Côte d’Ivoire, Switzerland
- Group G: Germany, Colombia, North Korea, El Salvador
- Group H: Brazil, Honduras, Indonesia, Zambia
- Group I: USA, Burkina Faso, Tajikistan, Czech Republic
- Group J: Paraguay, Uzbekistan, Panama, Ireland
- Group K: France, Chile, Canada, Uganda
- Group L: Mali, New Zealand, Austria, Saudi Arabia
Fan Zones and Expectations
The tournament is designed to create a vibrant atmosphere, with fan zones set up around the eight stadiums within Aspire Zone, where supporters can enjoy various activities alongside the matches. Qatar’s extensive experience in hosting international events, such as the FIFA World Cup 2022, is expected to ensure the tournament’s success.
For further details, including match schedules and team information, visit the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 match schedule.
