Everything You Need to Know About the U-17 World Cup Before Kick-Off in Qatar
Qatar prepares to host a historic U-17 World Cup with 48 teams, including Egypt under coach Ahmed El Kass, with full details on dates, venues, and tournament format.
Football fans worldwide eagerly await the U-17 World Cup, taking place in Qatar from November 3 to November 27, 2025, featuring 48 teams for the first time in history. One of the notable teams is Egypt, led by coach Ahmed El Kass. 🌍⚽️
Match Schedule
The tournament kicks off on Monday with Qatar vs Italy at 5:45 PM at Stadium 7 in Aspire Academy, part of Group A along with South Africa and Bolivia.
Venues
Matches will be held across eight stadiums at Aspire Academy over 25 days, totaling 104 matches, with eight matches daily. The final will be held at Khalifa International Stadium, one of the 2022 World Cup venues, for a special conclusion. 🏟️
Tournament Mascot
The official mascot, “The Owl”, is inspired by legendary Serbian coach Vladimir "Bora" Milutinović, the only coach to participate in five consecutive World Cups with five different teams. The owl symbolizes wisdom, sharp vision, and precise guidance, honoring Bora’s influence on football globally and in Qatar. 🦉
Debut Teams
Five teams make their U-17 World Cup debut this year: Fiji, Ireland, Zambia, El Salvador, and Uganda, showcasing the tournament’s global reach and focus on emerging talents from all six continents.
Tournament Format
The 48 teams are divided into 12 groups of 4, with the top two teams from each group plus the best eight third-placed teams advancing to the Round of 32.
Tiebreakers follow this order:
a) Points in head-to-head matches between tied teams
b) Goal difference in head-to-head matches
c) Most goals scored in matches among tied teams ⚖️
Groups
Group 1: Qatar, Italy, South Africa, Bolivia
Group 2: Japan, Morocco, New Caledonia, Portugal
Group 3: Senegal, Croatia, Costa Rica, UAE
Group 4: Argentina, Belgium, Tunisia, Fiji
Group 5: England, Venezuela, Haiti, Egypt
Group 6: Mexico, South Korea, Ivory Coast, Switzerland
Group 7: Germany, Colombia, North Korea, El Salvador
Group 8: Brazil, Honduras, Indonesia, Zambia
Group 9: USA, Burkina Faso, Tajikistan, Czech Republic
Group 10: Paraguay, Uzbekistan, Panama, Ireland
Group 11: France, Chile, Canada, Uganda
Group 12: Mali, New Zealand, Austria, Saudi Arabia
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