FIFA U-17 World Cup 2025: Qatar set to host first-ever 48-team youth tournament

The FIFA U-17 World Cup 2025 will kick off on November 3 in Qatar, marking the debut of a new expanded 48-team format and the first time the youth tournament will be held in the Gulf state.

The competition’s opening day will feature South Africa vs Bolivia and Costa Rica vs the United Arab Emirates, both taking place at the Aspire Zone complex in Al Rayyan, a venue that will host every match until the final.

The final match is set for November 27 at Doha’s 45,000-seat Khalifa International Stadium, one of the iconic arenas from the 2022 World Cup.

A new era for youth football

For the first time, FIFA’s U-17 showcase will feature 48 teams, doubling the traditional 24-team lineup. The nations are divided into 12 groups, producing a marathon of 104 matches over 25 days.

The group stage runs until November 11, followed by a 32-team knockout phase starting November 14.
Unlike previous tournaments, no extra time will be played in knockout matches, ties will go straight to penalty shootouts.

Key groups and early clashes

Qatar’s young squad will headline Group A, facing Italy, South Africa, and Bolivia, while other heavyweight fixtures include:

• Group B: Japan, Morocco, New Caledonia, Portugal
• Group D: Argentina, Belgium, Tunisia, Fiji
• Group H: Brazil, Honduras, Indonesia, Zambia
• Group I: USA, Burkina Faso, Tajikistan, Czechia
• Group K: France, Chile, Canada, Uganda

Defending champions Brazil are expected to be strong contenders again, alongside European giants England, France, and Germany, each fielding deep, technically advanced youth setups.

Where and when to watch

All games will be hosted across eight pitches at the Aspire Zone, with compact scheduling allowing fans to attend multiple matches per day. Kickoffs range between 3:30 pm and 6:45 pm local time (12:30–15:45 GMT).

The semifinals are scheduled for November 24, with the third-place match and final taking place on November 27. The final kicks off at 9 pm local time (18:00 GMT) at Khalifa International Stadium.

Organisers promise “legacy of development”

Qatari officials say the tournament will leverage the infrastructure built for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, while focusing on youth development and fan access.

The Aspire Zone, known for its state-of-the-art sports science facilities, is expected to provide one of the most technically advanced environments ever for a youth World Cup.

Full list of participating nations (by group)

Group A: Qatar, 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, 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

The 2025 edition marks a significant shift in FIFA’s youth competition strategy, a blend of expanded global participation, tight scheduling, and a single-city tournament model meant to echo the efficiency of the 2022 World Cup.