TThe 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup will be held in Qatar from November 3 to 27, ushering in a historic new chapter in youth football. For the first time, the tournament will feature 48 teams divided into 12 groups, double the traditional 24-team format. All matches will be played at the Aspire Zone complex in Al Rayyan, while the final will be held at Doha’s Khalifa International Stadium, which has a capacity of 45,000 spectators.
What is the schedule for the U-17 World Cup?
Neymar caught partying with Vincius Jr.’s rumored girlfriend in resurfaced video
The tournament will open with two matches on November 3rd, South Africa vs. Bolivia and Costa Rica vs. United Arab Emirates. The group stage will run until November 11th, with the round of 16 starting on November 14th and the knockout stage continuing until the grand final on the 27th.
A total of 104 matches will be played, a record number for the world’s most important youth tournament. The top two teams in each group and the top eight teams in third place will advance directly to the finals. If the match is tied within regulation time, overtime will not be played and the score will be decided directly by penalties.
What are the groups for the 2025 U-17 World Cup?
Among the 48 teams, there are historical powerhouse teams as well as newcomers. In Group A, host nation Qatar will face Italy, South Africa and Bolivia, while Group D is expected to feature high-level competition against Argentina, Belgium, Tunisia and Fiji. Mexico will be in Group F with South Korea, Ivory Coast and Switzerland, while the United States will face Burkina Faso, Tajikistan and the Czech Republic in Group I. Meanwhile, Brazil leads Group H along with Honduras, Indonesia and Zambia.
The tournament will also include European teams such as France, Germany, England, Portugal and Croatia, as well as African teams such as Senegal, Mali and Egypt.
Global expectations for young talent
Following the success of the 2022 World Cup, Qatar will once again become the center of world football. This U-17 edition will be a showcase for future soccer stars, many of whom could shine in the elite in a few years.
Former Qatari football player Abdulaziz Al Sulaiti was in charge of conducting the draw in Doha, underscoring the country’s ambitions to establish itself as a leading destination for major sporting events.
The final will be held in Doha on November 27th at 21:00 local time (18:00 GMT) and will be an event that promises to crown the next champion of world football.
