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Belgium, Japan, Senegal, Croatia and South Africa booked their places in the knockout stage of the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 at the Aspire Zone Sunday, as Groups A, B, C and D came to a close.There remains hope for the hosts Qatar, Morocco and Tunisia, but they must wait and see if they progress as one of the eight best third-placed teams. Results also ensured Egypt, Venezuela, Switzerland, Korea Republic and Korea DPR will feature in the Round of 32.Despite a host of chances, hosts Qatar couldn’t break through a stubborn Bolivia backline. The result leaves the hosts’ last-32 hopes hanging by a thread, while the South Americans are out.Yazan Mohamed came close in the first half, as he tested Geronimo Govea with a fierce low drive. Captain Zaid Ktit then hit the bar in the second half, before sending a chip over Govea but just past the post. Mohamed came even closer in added time, as he powered an effort off the upright from five yards out.Italy 3-1 South AfricaSamuele Inacio hit a double as Italy beat South Africa to confirm top spot. Bafana Bafana, while beaten, have also qualified for the knockout phase, with their four points enough to seal second spot. Inacio’s slick finish opened the scoring, before Shaun Els bundled in a leveller. Antonio Arena’s header restored Italy’s advantage, before Inacio scored his second of the game and fourth of the tournament to wrap up victory.Morocco 16-0 New CaledoniaMorocco racked up the biggest victory in U-17 World Cup history to keep their hopes alive of progressing to the knockout phase. Spain’s 13-0 win over New Zealand was the previous biggest win, but the Atlas Cubs surpassed that with a relentless performance. Morocco captain Hamza Bouhaddi, said, “We’re delighted with this win and the spirit we showed today. This is our true level. We lost the first two matches, but we tried to put that behind us and we approached today’s game as if it were our first in the tournament.” New Caledonia had two players sent off during the first half, with Typhan Dreuko and Jean Canehmez given red cards.They were made to pay, with Oualid Ibn Salah, Abdelali Eddaoudi, Ziyad Baha, Nahel Haddani, Ismail El Aoud and Abdellah Ouazane all completing braces as Morocco steadfastly hunted the goals which could give them a better chance to progressing to the Round of 32. They finished behind Japan and Portugal in Group B, and will now have to wait to see if they qualify as one of the best third-placed sides.Portugal 1-2 JapanJapan recovered from a disappointing draw with New Caledonia by downing Portugal to top the standings. Takeshi Wada opened the scoring with a neat touch and finish. Mateus Mide thought he’d levelled just moments later, but his long-range effort went through two Portuguese players who had strayed offside. They were then stung by a Japanese sucker-punch, as Taiga Seguchi lasered in from distance.The game flipped with just under 20 minutes to go, as Kaiji Chonan was sent off for a kick out on Stevan Manuel. Portugal quickly halved the arrears from there, with Zeega bundling home from close range. Bino Macaes’ side pressed in the final ten minutes, but Japan held on to secure victory.UAE 0-5 SenegalA Bakary Sonko treble saw Senegal sink United Arab Emirates and advance as group winners. Malick Cisse got the ball rolling with an ice-cool stuttered penalty after Saad Mubarak had wiped out Alwaly Camara. It was the Sonko show from then on. First, he nodded home from beneath the crossbar, before lashing in his second. Mame Sow then crossed for the No8 to tap in for the match ball. Victor Mendy completed the scoring when he fired into the roof of the the net from close range.Croatia 3-1 Costa RicaCroatia also secured a last-32 berth with victory over Costa Rica. The Europeans broke the deadlock when Kresimir Rados got on the end of a devilish Karlo Pajsar cross to net for a second straight match. Raul Kumar doubled the lead with a back-post header from a corner. Costa Rica quickly got back into the match with Thiago Cordero firing in a low drive from outside the box, but Tino Kusanovic nodded in late from another Pajsar cross to seal victory. A delighted Croatia coach Marijan Budimir said, “I want to congratulate my boys. They played a very good game, they controlled the game from the first moment until the end. It’s a pity we didn’t score more goals. The team are very disciplined in defence and sharp in attack. We want to go as far as possible in the tournament.”Fiji 0-7 ArgentinaArgentina continued their 100-per-cent start to Morocco 2025 with a thumping win over Fiji. Uriel Ojeda looked to give the South Americans an early lead, but his penalty was repelled by Melvin Prakash. It was only a temporary reprieve, however, as Ojeda netted, before a fine brace from Mateo Martinez. Ojeda then netted a free-kick in the second half, and side-footed home from inside the box for the match ball. Santiago Silveira and Simon Escobar tacked on two late goals to complete the scoring.Belgium 2-0 TunisiaNoah Fernandez set Belgium on their way to victory over ten-player Tunisia and a spot in the last 32. The mercurial midfielder picked up a slack pass from goalkeeper Slim Bouaskar, skipped inside and netted inside 52 seconds. Tunisia’s task was then made doubly difficult on 17 minutes as Saifedin Haj Abdallah was sent off for a high tackle. Ali Camara made the game safe in the second period with a stunning drive from the edge of the box.

Football Legend Mikaël Silvestre has lauded the exceptional football experience and operational excellence at the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025.Silvestre, a decorated former French international defender with more than 400 career appearances for Manchester United, Arsenal, Inter Milan and other elite clubs, was in Qatar to attend the historic first-ever 48-team youth tournament. "The quality of the football is quite intense. There's a lot of aggressiveness, the players are going for it. The group stage brings real pressure, and the quality is exceptional because you're watching the crème de la crème on the pitch"Yet it was the tournament’s seamless organisation that captured Silvestre's particular admiration: "From the venue to the infrastructure, especially for guests like me, the standard of organisation is fantastic. The players have everything in their favour to concentrate on football and shine on the global stage."Drawing on his experience witnessing the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, Silvestre reflected on how Qatar's hosting capabilities have proven consistent: "During the World Cup in 2022, we were able to watch multiple games at different venues in a single day. The commute between stadiums, the quality of the pitches, the infrastructure, everything was seamless. When the U-17 World Cup was awarded to Qatar, I was genuinely pleased. For me, it's a win-win for everyone."The tournament, hosted across eight state-of-the-art pitches at the Competition Complex in Aspire Zone, underscores Qatar's ongoing commitment to youth development and its growing legacy as a premier international sports destination.As the first FIFA World Cup to feature 48 teams, this is the biggest-ever edition of the youth tournament that saw the likes of Gianluigi Buffon, Luis Figo, Xavi Hernandez, Eden Hazard, Andres Iniesta, Neymar, Ronaldinho, Son Heung-min and Francesco Totti appear on the world stage for the first time.A total of 104 matches will be contested, culminating in the Final on 27 November at Khalifa International Stadium. This marks the first of five consecutive youth tournaments that Qatar will host through 2029.

The drama and excitement continued at the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 Saturday as several nations booked their spots in the knockout rounds, while others kept their dreams alive with hard-fought results. At the Aspire Zone, USA, Austria and Ireland confirmed qualification with comeback wins, while Burkina Faso edged Czech Republic in a thriller, and Uganda celebrated a historic first-ever point at a FIFA tournament. Elsewhere, Saudi Arabia stunned New Zealand, France and Canada shared the spoils, and Paraguay outlasted Panama in a tense encounter. Czech Republic 1-2 Burkina Faso Mohamed Zongo was the architect of Burkina Faso’s vital victory, opening the scoring with a stunning long-range strike after his side won the ball thanks to a high press. Czechia levelled almost immediately as Adam Novak released Vit Skrkon to finish calmly, only for Zongo to then provide the corner delivery for Loukman Tapsoba to power home the winning header. USA 2-1 Tajikistan USA overcame a shock early setback to book their place in the round of 32. Tajikistan took an unexpected lead when Muhammad Nazriev exchanged passes with Mehrubon Odilzoda before producing a smart finish, but USA levelled as Nimfasha Berchimas headed home a corner. After heavy pressure, Cavan Sullivan executed a textbook Panenka penalty to complete the comeback. Paraguay 2-1 Panama Pedro Villalba played a central role as Paraguay overcame 10-man Panama. Jossimar Insturain was dismissed after receiving his second yellow for a challenge on midfielder Villalba, with the South Americans then taking the lead as a smart exchange between Carlos Franco and the No20 allowed Thiago Aranda to strike. Villalba then burst into the box to fire a low strike through Adamir Aparicio from close range, before Aldo Sanabria's late own-goal set up a tense finish. Ireland 2-1 Uzbekistan Ireland rallied from an early deficit to defeat Uzbekistan and book their spot in the Round of 32. Uzbekistan broke the deadlock when a parry from goalkeeper Alex Noonan fell right to Abubakir Shukurullaev, who volleyed in. But Ireland levelled as Grady McDonnell rose above a pair of defenders and steered a header home. After chances for both sides to start the second stanza, the Irish wrestled away the lead, with Michael Noonan thumping in a header. **media[379207]** Uganda 1-1 Chile Substitute Derick Ssozi scored Uganda’s first-ever goal at a FIFA tournament to snatch a vital point for the African nation. Chile captain Bruno Torres’ glancing header from Antonio Riquelme’s curling free-kick looked set to be the winner, until a corner deep into added time caused chaos in the box and allowed Ssozi, who had been on the pitch for a matter of seconds, to fire home. France 0-0 Canada France and Canada had to settle for a share of the spoils in their Group K outing, a result that leaves the duo in pole position to progress. France's Pierre Mounguengue came closest to breaking the deadlock in the closing moments as he jinked into the area and beat Jonathan Ransom, only to see his effort come back off the outside of the post. Mali 0-3 Austria Austria delivered an impressive team display to beat Mali and qualify for the U-17 World Cup knockout phase for the first time. They took a first-half lead through Johannes Moser’s penalty. Mali’s task was made all the more difficult when Samba Konare was sent off for a reckless challenge. Hasan Deshishku’s fine finish made it 2-0, before Nicolas Jozepovic’s stoppage-time header added some gloss to the scoreline. Saudi Arabia 3-2 New Zealand Saudi Arabia breathed fresh life into their campaign with a thrilling victory over New Zealand, who have been eliminated. Saudi Arabia took an early lead in fortunate circumstances when a New Zealand defensive clearance bounced off Abdulrahman Sufyani and looped into the net. The OFC side levelled through Matias Nunez’s deflected strike, but Sabri Dahal then raced clear to score for the Saudis. Jack Perniskie’s wonderful backheel made it 2-2, but Saudi Arabia were to have the last word, with Thari Saeed rifling in a stoppage-time winner.

Hosts Qatar kept their qualification hopes alive with a draw 1-1 against South Africa at the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar Thursday, while Argentina, Italy and Portugal secured their passage to the knockout stage. At the Mansour Muftah in Aspire Zone, Qatar and South Africa battled out a tense draw which moved Bafana Bafana into a strong position and kept the hosts’ hopes of progression well and truly alive. Qatar got off to a dream start when Yazan Mohamed arrowed a low shot into the bottom corner. Emile Witbooi, outstanding throughout, soon pulled South Africa level with a fine header. Clear chances then proved hard to come by and the sides were forced to settle for a share of the points. This draw gives Qatar, who lost 1-0 to Italy in their opening match, one point and keeps their hopes of advancing to the Round of 32 alive. South Africa, who defeated Bolivia 3-1 in their first match, now have four points. Qatar will face Bolivia in their final group stage match on Sunday. Bolivia 0-4 Italy Italy swept aside Bolivia to make it back-to-back Group A victories and progress to the knockout stages. Simone Lontani’s smart finish put them in front, before Samuele Inacio’s unstoppable strike doubled their advantage. Substitute Destiny Elimoghale burst clear to score the Italians’ third. Inacio and Bolivia’s Jesus Maraude then failed to convert penalties, before Fabio Pandolfi slotted a late fourth. Portugal 6-0 Morocco Portugal stayed perfect and booked their spot in the knockouts with a routine win. Joao Aragao got the ball rolling with a low drive, before Anisio Cabral rifled in a second. Mateus Mide helped himself to a brace, including a penalty, before the interval. Jose Neto quickly added another after the break, and duly headed in for his second on the hour to complete the scoring. Japan 0-0 New Caledonia Nicolas Kutran’s astounding reflexes earned the Pacific Islanders an unforeseen point. With Jelani Ren Mcghee and Minato Yoshida sparkling, Nozomi Hiroyama’s Young Samurai Blue had 18 shots in the first half, but the New Caledonia goalkeeper made excellent saves with both legs. After the break, Kutran exasperated McGhee with his fingertips, while Yoshida’s overhead kick skimmed the crossbar as Japan ran out of time. Group C United Arab Emirates 0-3 Croatia Croatia dominated from start to finish as they cruised past United Arab Emirates. A high line of pressure resulted in the first goal, with Gabrijel Sivalec blocking a pass and the ball deflecting into the path of Tino Kusanovic, who swept home for the opener. Sivalec then doubled the advantage by cutting off an attempted clearance and curling a right-footed shot into net. UAE played with more purpose in the second stanza, but the night belonged to Croatia, and a header from Kresimir Rados in the final minutes served as the exclamation point. Senegal 1-0 Costa Rica Senegal continued their unbeaten start thanks to Alwaly Camara's early strike. In the eighth minute, Etienne Mendy picked up the ball on the left wing and squared it neatly to Camara who powered home his effort. Costa Rica, for their part, struggled to make any impact to leave their qualification hopes in the balance. Argentina 1-0 Tunisia For the second game in a row, Facundo Jainikoski emerged from the bench to inspire Argentina to victory. The South Americans have now secured their passage to the knockout stages. After an even opening period, Diego Placente turned to his No18 to change the game. Just as he did against Belgium, he scored within ten minutes of entering the fray. Bearing down on the Tunisia goal, the Argentinos Juniors forward let fly and found the bottom corner. He almost doubled his money soon after, only to see a rasping drive cannon off the crossbar. Fiji 0-7 Belgium Rene Mitongo scored a fantastic four as Belgium got their campaign up and running with a comprehensive victory over Fiji, who are now eliminated. The Europeans took control of the game from the outset, scoring twice in the opening nine minutes through a Noah Fernandez free-kick and Pablo Capilla Rivera strike. Fernandez then turned provider as he set up Mitongo, who tapped the ball into the empty net. Loic Alvarez made it four thanks to a brilliant individual effort before Mitingo scored his second just before the break. Both sides were then reduced to ten men with Belgium's August de Wannemacker and Teimana Goundar given their marching orders. Mitongo scored two late goals to seal the rout and stake his early claim for the Golden Boot. What they said... “I cannot describe how it feels to score! I am just so glad to be here with my team-mates. I am the youngest one and they make me feel good in the team. That gives me a lot of confidence.” Destiny Elimoghale, Italy goalscorer "This was a different game, against a good team. We started strong, created a little anxiety on their team, because they knew that losing could cost their qualification, and we played with that." Bino Macaes, Portugal coach "I think we gave 100 per cent as a team in this match. Personally, there were moments where I feel I could have done more, but this really reminded us that at the World Cup, if you don’t finish your chances, the game becomes very difficult. If we win the next match against Portugal, we advance from the group stage. So this time, I want to be the one to score and lead Japan to victory." Minato Yoshida, Japan forward "A happy coach, but above all a happy coaching staff, delighted to see our young players capable of surpassing themselves and giving their all throughout a match against a team like Japan. We knew our young players were capable of competing and trying to match the level of these great nations. But the uncertainty was about how long they could do it for. Against Portugal, we managed to hold out for one half and then we collapsed physically. This time, we managed to hold out for the whole match, keep a clean sheet and snatch a point from the draw without conceding a goal. It's a real achievement for us." Leonardo Lopez, New Caledonia coach "We played well tactically in the first half, but we had some difficulties getting the ball out of our half. We corrected that at half-time, and then we were able to get the ball and play our game. We had chances to score, and before Argentina's goal, we had an opportunity to score, but they scored on a transition. We'll take the positives, we'll fix the negatives and we'll look ahead to the next match against Belgium." Amine Naffati, Tunisia coach "We're happy because sometimes it's not easy, and even less so to qualify in the second match. And happy because we've beaten the two toughest opponents. We played better today and we're satisfied." Diego Placente, Argentina coach "Everyone says it was only Fiji. But you still have to play the match and always respect your opponents, who really played with heart. I’m very pleased with what the players showed on the pitch." Bob Browaeys, Belgium coach "We worked really hard for this match. Scoring seven goals isn’t easy. We took the game very seriously, the coach told us to. I feel good and I’m happy [to have scored four goals], but it’s not over. The tournament is still long and we’re going to keep working hard." Rene Mitongo, Belgium forward "The main thing is that we won. In the first match, we had chances but we didn’t take them. Today, we won thanks to the players, the staff and the management. This victory is for the people." Alwaly Camara, Senegal forward "Matches sometimes decided by mistakes. We made a mistake at the start of the match that cost us their goal. They were very decisive. It was the clearest chance they had and they took it. But that's football. We couldn't equalise despite having two or three clear chances." Randall Row, Costa Rica coach

Hosts Qatar kept their qualification hopes alive with a draw 1-1 against South Africa at the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar Thursday, while Argentina, Italy and Portugal secured their passage to the knockout stage. At the Mansour Muftah in Aspire Zone, Qatar and South Africa battled out a tense draw which moved Bafana Bafana into a strong position and kept the hosts’ hopes of progression well and truly alive. Qatar got off to a dream start when Yazan Mohamed arrowed a low shot into the bottom corner. Emile Witbooi, outstanding throughout, soon pulled South Africa level with a fine header. Clear chances then proved hard to come by and the sides were forced to settle for a share of the points.This draw gives Qatar, who lost 1-0 to Italy in their opening match, one point and keeps their hopes of advancing to the Round of 32 alive. South Africa, who defeated Bolivia 3-1 in their first match, now have four points. Qatar will face Bolivia in their final group stage match on Sunday.Bolivia 0-4 ItalyItaly swept aside Bolivia to make it back-to-back Group A victories and progress to the knockout stages. Simone Lontani’s smart finish put them in front, before Samuele Inacio’s unstoppable strike doubled their advantage. Substitute Destiny Elimoghale burst clear to score the Italians’ third. Inacio and Bolivia’s Jesus Maraude then failed to convert penalties, before Fabio Pandolfi slotted a late fourth.Portugal 6-0 MoroccoPortugal stayed perfect and booked their spot in the knockouts with a routine win. Joao Aragao got the ball rolling with a low drive, before Anisio Cabral rifled in a second. Mateus Mide helped himself to a brace, including a penalty, before the interval. Jose Neto quickly added another after the break, and duly headed in for his second on the hour to complete the scoring.Japan 0-0 New CaledoniaNicolas Kutran’s astounding reflexes earned the Pacific Islanders an unforeseen point. With Jelani Ren Mcghee and Minato Yoshida sparkling, Nozomi Hiroyama’s Young Samurai Blue had 18 shots in the first half, but the New Caledonia goalkeeper made excellent saves with both legs. After the break, Kutran exasperated McGhee with his fingertips, while Yoshida’s overhead kick skimmed the crossbar as Japan ran out of time. Group CUnited Arab Emirates 0-3 CroatiaCroatia dominated from start to finish as they cruised past United Arab Emirates. A high line of pressure resulted in the first goal, with Gabrijel Sivalec blocking a pass and the ball deflecting into the path of Tino Kusanovic, who swept home for the opener. Sivalec then doubled the advantage by cutting off an attempted clearance and curling a right-footed shot into net.UAE played with more purpose in the second stanza, but the night belonged to Croatia, and a header from Kresimir Rados in the final minutes served as the exclamation point.Senegal 1-0 Costa RicaSenegal continued their unbeaten start thanks to Alwaly Camara's early strike. In the eighth minute, Etienne Mendy picked up the ball on the left wing and squared it neatly to Camara who powered home his effort. Costa Rica, for their part, struggled to make any impact to leave their qualification hopes in the balance.Argentina 1-0 TunisiaFor the second game in a row, Facundo Jainikoski emerged from the bench to inspire Argentina to victory. The South Americans have now secured their passage to the knockout stages.After an even opening period, Diego Placente turned to his No18 to change the game. Just as he did against Belgium, he scored within ten minutes of entering the fray. Bearing down on the Tunisia goal, the Argentinos Juniors forward let fly and found the bottom corner. He almost doubled his money soon after, only to see a rasping drive cannon off the crossbar.Fiji 0-7 BelgiumRene Mitongo scored a fantastic four as Belgium got their campaign up and running with a comprehensive victory over Fiji, who are now eliminated. The Europeans took control of the game from the outset, scoring twice in the opening nine minutes through a Noah Fernandez free-kick and Pablo Capilla Rivera strike. Fernandez then turned provider as he set up Mitongo, who tapped the ball into the empty net. Loic Alvarez made it four thanks to a brilliant individual effort before Mitingo scored his second just before the break. Both sides were then reduced to ten men with Belgium's August de Wannemacker and Teimana Goundar given their marching orders. Mitongo scored two late goals to seal the rout and stake his early claim for the Golden Boot.What they said...“I cannot describe how it feels to score! I am just so glad to be here with my team-mates. I am the youngest one and they make me feel good in the team. That gives me a lot of confidence.”Destiny Elimoghale, Italy goalscorer"This was a different game, against a good team. We started strong, created a little anxiety on their team, because they knew that losing could cost their qualification, and we played with that."Bino Macaes, Portugal coach"I think we gave 100 per cent as a team in this match. Personally, there were moments where I feel I could have done more, but this really reminded us that at the World Cup, if you don’t finish your chances, the game becomes very difficult. If we win the next match against Portugal, we advance from the group stage. So this time, I want to be the one to score and lead Japan to victory."Minato Yoshida, Japan forward"A happy coach, but above all a happy coaching staff, delighted to see our young players capable of surpassing themselves and giving their all throughout a match against a team like Japan. We knew our young players were capable of competing and trying to match the level of these great nations. But the uncertainty was about how long they could do it for. Against Portugal, we managed to hold out for one half and then we collapsed physically. This time, we managed to hold out for the whole match, keep a clean sheet and snatch a point from the draw without conceding a goal. It's a real achievement for us."Leonardo Lopez, New Caledonia coach"We played well tactically in the first half, but we had some difficulties getting the ball out of our half. We corrected that at half-time, and then we were able to get the ball and play our game. We had chances to score, and before Argentina's goal, we had an opportunity to score, but they scored on a transition. We'll take the positives, we'll fix the negatives and we'll look ahead to the next match against Belgium."Amine Naffati, Tunisia coach"We're happy because sometimes it's not easy, and even less so to qualify in the second match. And happy because we've beaten the two toughest opponents. We played better today and we're satisfied."Diego Placente, Argentina coach"Everyone says it was only Fiji. But you still have to play the match and always respect your opponents, who really played with heart. I’m very pleased with what the players showed on the pitch."Bob Browaeys, Belgium coach"We worked really hard for this match. Scoring seven goals isn’t easy. We took the game very seriously, the coach told us to. I feel good and I’m happy [to have scored four goals], but it’s not over. The tournament is still long and we’re going to keep working hard."Rene Mitongo, Belgium forward"The main thing is that we won. In the first match, we had chances but we didn’t take them. Today, we won thanks to the players, the staff and the management. This victory is for the people."Alwaly Camara, Senegal forward"Matches sometimes decided by mistakes. We made a mistake at the start of the match that cost us their goal. They were very decisive. It was the clearest chance they had and they took it. But that's football. We couldn't equalise despite having two or three clear chances."Randall Row, Costa Rica coach

With the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2025 taking place in Qatar, world and football industry leaders have congregated at the Aspire Zone to take in the action from what is regarded as one of football’s premier youth tournaments. This included Annalena Baerbock, President of the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly, who is in Qatar for the Second World Summit for Social Development taking place from 4-6 November. Speaking to the tournament’s Local Organising Committee, Baerbock stressed on the role of sports in bridging nations and promoting social justice: “The global community has convened in Qatar to highlight the importance of social justice in building stronger societies. The same applies to sports – you only win when you play as one team,” said Baerbock, who has previously served as Germany’s Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs from December 2021 until May 2025. With 48 teams coming together to compete for the coveted FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 trophy, Baerbock believes that this tournament is a testament to the power of sports in uniting players and fans alike and celebrating global diversity. **media[378328]** “The U-17 World Cup showcases the power of playing as a team. On a football pitch, your socio-economic background doesn’t matter. What matters is that you score well and play as a team. It is through sports that the youth learn to embrace diversity and overcome challenges together. The world of politics could also learn from sports that you either win together or lose together,” said Baerbock. “With FIFA talent academies established around the world, and with the U-17 World Cup now turning into an annual event, more children and families will have access to football and sports. I believe sports, especially football, teaches children to honour rules. If we adopted the same mindset in international diplomacy, and played by the rules, we would have more peace in the world. Combining impactful social policies with sports is a win-win situation for all,” added Baerbock. The Second World Summit for Social Development is taking place in Qatar, thirty years after the landmark 1995 World Summit for Social Development in Copenhagen. The Summit brings world leaders together to redefine strategies for social progress, strengthen global partnerships, and promote inclusive policies that foster equitable opportunities for all. The FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 is taking place from 3-27 November at the state-of-the-art Competition Complex in Aspire Zone. Tickets and match schedule are available at: www.roadtoqatar.qa

The FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 is underway, with 48 teams battling it out in the exciting group stage. With fans making their way to Aspire Zone to cheer on their teams, the tournament is offering a barrier-free experience for disabled fans to be part of the football celebrations. Here are three key accessibility features allowing disabled fans to be part of the tournament experience: Wheelchair-accessible seating across all pitches **media[377310]** All eight pitches of the Competition Complex in Aspire Zone include wheelchair-accessible seating options. The Final will take place at Khalifa International Stadium, also located in Aspire Zone, featuring accessible seating options for fans with disabilities and/or limited mobility. **media[377311]** Audio descriptive commentary available through smartphone app Audio descriptive commentary in Arabic and English is available for select matches, including all Qatar national team matches, for blind and partially sighted football fans. Fans can download the 3annak app, enter the code U17, and select the audio channel of their choice. Using personal headphones, fans can listen to a detailed commentary of match details, including important information about the ambience in the stands and even the players’ facial reactions. The service enables blind and partially sighted fans to experience the football action in a barrier-free manner. Sensory room at the fan zone A dedicated sensory room is available in the fan zone for fans with neurodivergent needs. Operating in partnership with Qatar Foundation Pre-University Education, the sensory room allowsfans with sensory needs to watch matches in a quieter space, equipped with assistive technology and managed by expert staff. How to apply for accessibility tickets? Fans can apply for an accessibility ticket by sending an email to: [email protected]. Tickets are priced at QAR 10. A dedicated team is set up to manage all accessibility ticket requests. Accessibility tickets will allow disabled fans to attend multiple matches a day as well as cultural and entertainment activities taking place at the fan zone. The fan zone will operate from 1:30 PM until the final whistle, on match days only. Ticket holders must carry their Proof of Eligibility when entering the Aspire Zone and Khalifa International Stadium.Companion tickets are available for people assisting an accessibility ticketholder.

In recognition of Qatar’s long legacy of young footballers who have achieved numerous successes, FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 matches will be played on Aspire Zone pitches named in their honour. The players chosen to reflect the rich history of Qatari football and will inspire a new generation of young stars.The footballers chosen are:Pitch 1 - Mohammed GhanimMohammed Ghanim is recognised as one of the most talented footballers in Qatar’s history. He rose to prominence in the 1970s when he was chosen as the Most Valuable Player during the third edition of the Gulf Cup held in Kuwait in 1974.On the club level, he was part of the Al-Ahli team where he was the first captain to lift the coveted Amir Cup trophy in 1972, when he led his team to an emphatic 6-1 win over Al Rayyan at the historic Doha Stadium.Pitch 2 - Ibrahim KhalfanKnown as an artist on an off the pitch, Ibrahim Khalfan played for Qatar’s national team in different age groups. Most notably, Khalfan played a crucial role in leading the country to its historic second-place finish at the 1981 FIFA World Youth Championship. As a player for Qatari side Al-Arabi, Khalfanwas recognised as the midfield mastermind behind three consecutive Amir Cup titles between 1977 and 1979.Pitch 3 - Bader BilalThe former striker was also part of the famous Qatari side that claimed runners up at the 1981 FIFA World Youth Championship. Bilal also played a critical role in leading club side Al Sadd to an Asian Club Championship title in 1988-89, scoring several times throughout the tournament.Pitch 4 - Khaled SalmanKhaled Salman is recognised as one of the most prominent Qatari footballers. In the 1981 FIFA World Youth Championship, Salman scored a famous hat-trick against powerhouses Brazil, earning Qatar a spot in the final. Salman also represented Qatar at the 1984 Summer Olympics, andscored two goals against France. Salman also led club side Al Sadd to their first ever Asian Club Championship title in 1988-89.Pitch 5 - Khaled BallanThe late Khaled Ballan marked a notable debut with the Qatar national team in the 1970 Gulf Cup in Bahrain, where he was awarded the Player of the Tournament title. Ballan played throughout the 1970s and spent his entire career at Qatar Sports Club, formerly known as Al-Esteglal, winning the Qatari league several times.Pitch 7 - Mansour MuftahMansour Muftah is regarded as one of the best Arab goal scorers in his era, becoming the first player to win the Arabian Golden Boot twice in 1981–82 and 1985–86. Muftah is also recognised as the all-time leading goal scorer in the Amir Cup and in the Sheikh Jassim Cup, earning the nickname “The Fox” for his speed and technique. With a record score of 317 goals in 324 matches for both club and country, the top goalscorer award for Qatar Stars League, was renamed to the “Mansour Muftah Award” in recognition of his outstanding contribution to Qatari football.Pitch 8 - Mahmoud SoufiThe late Mahmoud Soufi is celebrated as the country's top scorer in the history of FIFA World Cup™ qualifiers with 12 goals in 20 matches. Soufi was instrumental in leading Qatar to their first ever Arabian Gulf Cup title in 1992. Soufi also played for several prominent clubs in Qatar, earning the title for top goal scorer in various seasons.Pitch 9 - Adel MallalaThe stalwart defender Adel Mallala represented Qatar in various international competitions throughout the 1980s, most notably the Arabian Gulf Cup, Summer Olympics and AFC Asian Cup. Malalla played for Qatari side Al Ahli throughout his entire career, helping them win several Amir Cup titles along the way.A total of 104 matches will be played across the eight pitches during the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 set to take place from 3-27 November.Tickets can be purchased exclusively from www.roadtoqatar.qa. Fans must also download the RoadtoQatar mobile app to present purchased tickets and access tournament venues.Tickets are available as a Day Pass, enabling fans to attend multiple matches a day as well fan zone activities. Fans can also purchase a Prime Pass, which will enable them to reserve seats for high demand matches. Supporters of the Qatar national team can avail the Follow My Team ticket, which will enable them to attend all matches of the Qatari U-17 team during the group stage.

Since its inaugural edition in China in 1985, the FIFA U-17 World Cup has featured 84 national teams. The FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025, marking the tournament’s 20th edition, will kick off this Monday at Aspire Zone and run until November 27, culminating with the final at Khalifa International Stadium.The FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 will be the seventh time the tournament is staged in Asia. Previous Asian editions were held in China (1985), Japan (1993), South Korea (2007), the UAE (2013), India (2017), and Indonesia (2023).Thirteen Arab nations have reached the finals throughout the tournament’s history: Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, Oman, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Algeria, Sudan, and the UAE.Arab teams from Asia have delivered standout performances, including four major successes. Saudi Arabia won the title in 1989 in Scotland, while Oman, Qatar, and Bahrain each reached the semi-finals once.The Qatari national team, winners of the 1990 AFC U-17 Championship, has qualified for the FIFA U-17 World Cup seven times, with its last appearance in 2005. The team now returns for its eighth appearance on home soil, opening the tournament against Italy this Monday at Aspire Zone’s Pitch 7.Qatar participated in the inaugural edition alongside Saudi Arabia, with its best performance coming in the fourth edition, when it reached the semi-finals and contested third place against Argentina, ultimately losing 4–1 on penalties.While Qatar has appeared in the finals more often than any other Arab nation, the greatest achievement for Arab teams came in 1989 when Saudi Arabia captured the FIFA U-17 World Cup title. After edging Bahrain 1–0 in the semi-finals, Saudi Arabia triumphed over hosts Scotland in a dramatic final, winning 5–4 on penalties following a 2–2 draw in regular time. This historic victory made Saudi Arabia the first Arab and Asian team to win a FIFA-organized tournament.Saudi Arabia advanced from the group stage with four points, drawing twice (2–2 vs. Portugal and Guinea) and defeating Colombia 1–0. The team then overcame Nigeria in the quarter-finals on penalties after a goalless draw.Bahrain finished fourth after losing the third-place match to Portugal 3–0. The Bahraini national team topped its group with five points from two wins against Cuba (3–0) and Ghana (1–0), and a draw against Scotland (1–1). Bahrain also achieved a historic quarter-final victory over Brazil, winning 4–1 on penalties after a goalless draw, before falling to Saudi Arabia 1–0 in the semi-finals.Oman also had a remarkable run in the 1995 edition hosted by Ecuador, finishing fourth after losing the third-place match to Argentina 2–0.In total, Arab teams have played 112 matches across previous editions of the FIFA U-17 World Cup, recording 35 wins, 25 draws, and 52 losses. They have collectively scored 137 goals. In the 2009 edition hosted by Nigeria, Algeria was the only Arab team that failed to score, exiting after three defeats.Tunisia has won six matches and lost five in its three appearances at the FIFA U-17 World Cup finals, reaching the Round of 16 twice and exiting in the group stage once.The 20th edition of the tournament, FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025, will feature six Arab teams: Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Tunisia, and Egypt.According to the draw, hosts Qatar — fourth-place finishers in the 1991 edition — are in Group A alongside Italy, South Africa, and Bolivia. Morocco, quarter-finalists in 2023 in Indonesia, are in Group B with Japan, New Caledonia, and Portugal. The UAE, whose best achievement was reaching the Round of 16 in 2009 in Nigeria, will compete in Group C with Senegal, Croatia, and Costa Rica.Tunisia joins Group D along with Argentina, Belgium, and Fiji. Egypt, hosts in 1997 and quarter-finalists in their last appearance, are in Group E with England, Venezuela, and Haiti. Saudi Arabia, champions in 1989, are placed in Group L with Mali, New Zealand, and Austria.The teams participating in the FIFA U-17 World Cup will play 104 matches over 25 days at eight stadiums within Aspire Zone, with the final taking place at Khalifa International Stadium.This edition of the FIFA U-17 World Cup, hosted by Qatar, marks the first time the tournament will feature 48 teams. They are divided into 12 groups of four, with the top two teams from each group — along with the eight best third-placed teams — advancing to the Round of 32.The FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 is the first of five consecutive editions scheduled to be held in Qatar.

The Austrian and Costa Rican U-17 teams arrived at Hamad International Airport yesterday ahead of the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025, making Austria the first nation to touch down in Doha for the highly anticipated youth tournament. Austria has been drawn into Group L alongside Mali, New Zealand and Saudi Arabia. The team will begin their campaign on 5 November against AFC U-17 Asian Cup runners-up, Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, Costa Rica drawn into Group C with Senegal, Croatia and the United Arab Emirates, will play their first match on 3 November against the AFC U-17 Asian Cup quarterfinalists, the United Arab Emirates. The FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 will run from 3-27 November at Aspire Zone's state-of-the-art Competition Complex, featuring multiple pitches designed to create a festival-like atmosphere. The tournament represents a historic milestone as the first-ever 48-team World Cup , featuring young talent from across the globe competing for the coveted trophy. The Final will take place at FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 venue Khalifa International Stadium on 27 November at 7:00 PM.

Qatar will host the 20th edition of the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 for the first time, from Nov. 3–27, with the participation of 48 teams, also for the first time in the tournament's history. The FIFA Council has decided to grant the State of Qatar the right to host the next five editions of the FIFA U-17 World Cup, which will be held annually from 2025 to 2029.With this, Qatar becomes the 20th country in history to host the U-17 World Cup, a tournament that began in 1985, four decades ago, when China organized the first edition featuring 16 teams.The tournament was first held by FIFA under the name FIFA U-16 World Championship, before being renamed the U-17 World Championship in 1991, and later, in 2007, taking its current name, the FIFA U-17 World Cup.Throughout its history, the tournament has witnessed significant development in both the number of participating teams and the scale of competition. It began in 1985 with 16 teams divided into four groups, before expanding to 24 teams starting with the 2007 edition held in South Korea.Nigeria won the first edition, defeating West Germany 2-0 in the final. Canada hosted the second edition in 1987, where the Soviet Union claimed the title by beating Nigeria on penalties (4-2) after a 1-1 draw in regular and extra time.The third edition was hosted by Scotland, and it saw the Saudi Arabian national team become the first Arab team to win the title, defeating the hosts on penalties (5-4) after a 2-2 draw in regular and extra time.The tournament continued with the fourth edition held in Italy in 1991, where Ghana won the title by defeating Spain 1-0 in the final. Japan hosted the fifth edition in 1993, with Nigeria winning the title for the second time, this time overcoming Ghana 2-1 in the final.The tournament moved to Ecuador in 1995, where Ghana won the title for the second time in its history, defeating Brazil 3-2 in the final. Then, in 1997, Egypt became the first Arab country to host the finals, with Brazil claiming the title by defeating Ghana 2-1 in the final match.The competition then headed to New Zealand in 1999, where Brazil successfully defended its title, overcoming Australia in the final via penalty shootout (8-7) after a goalless draw in regular and extra time.In 2001, Trinidad and Tobago hosted the ninth edition of the FIFA U-17 World Cup, with France winning its first title by defeating Nigeria 3-0 in the final.Finland hosted the tenth edition in 2003, where Brazil claimed its third title, defeating Spain 1-0 in the final.The eleventh edition was held in Peru in 2005, and Mexico claimed its first-ever title after a commanding 3-0 victory over Brazil in the final.In 2007, the 12th edition of the FIFA U-17 World Cup was held in South Korea, where Nigeria claimed its third title, defeating Spain in the final via penalty shootout (3-0) after a goalless draw in regular and extra time.The 13th edition took place in Nigeria in 2009, where Switzerland won the title for the first time in its debut appearance by defeating the host nation 1-0 in the final.Mexico hosted the 14th edition, and the home team won the title for the second time, defeating Uruguay 2-0 in the final.In 2013, the United Arab Emirates became the second Arab country to host the tournament, staging the 15th edition, in which Nigeria won its fourth title, defeating Mexico 3-0 in the final.Nigeria further strengthened its record, raising its total titles to five, after winning the 16th edition in Chile in 2015, defeating Mali 2-0 in the final.India hosted the 17th edition in 2017, which saw England crowned champions for the first time after a 5-2 victory over Spain in the final.In 2019, Brazil won the 18th edition on home soil, defeating Mexico 2-0 in the final to claim its fourth title.The 19th edition of the FIFA U-17 World Cup was held in Indonesia in 2023, where Germany captured its first-ever title, defeating France in the final via penalty shootout (4-2) after a 2-2 draw in regular and extra time.

Only 10 days remain for the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025, which will see 48 teams from across the globe convene in Qatar from November 3-27 to compete for the coveted trophy.All eyes will be on Qatar, as the country gets set to host the youth tournament for the first time. The hosts will be looking to improve on their best finish, when they claimed fourth place in the 1991 edition of the tournament that took place in Italy – becoming the first Qatari team to reach the Third-Place Playoff.Jassim al-Tamimi, who captained the 1991 U-17 team at the time, recounts the country’s historic achievement 34 years ago and the significance that the tournament continues to hold for young players.“My beginnings were like any Qatari youth, playing football in the neighbourhood. When I was selected to be part of the team for the 1991 U-17 World Cup, it was a dream come true,” said al-Tamimi, who eventually played for the Qatar senior national team from 1996–2004.During the 1991 tournament, al-Tamimi’s squad was drawn into Group B, alongside Australia, Congo and Mexico. After a slow start with a 0-0 draw against Congo, and a 1-0 defeat to Mexico, al-Tamimi’s winning goal in the 76th minute against Australia, launched the Young Maroons out of the group stage.The team would go on to beat the USA in the quarter-finals, before losing to eventual champions Ghana in a penalty shootout in the semi-finals. Despite narrowly losing to Argentina in the third-place Playoff, the Young Maroons made history by finishing fourth in the tournament.“We became the first Qatari team in the youth category to make it to this stage. This was a tremendous achievement. The joy was indescribable and the whole country was celebrating with us. This experience became the gateway to my football career,” said al-Tamimi, who went on to achieve 100 caps for his country.With Qatar now set to make its eighth appearance at the tournament, a new generation of players will be looking to make the country proud. Hosts Qatar have been drawn into Group A, alongside Italy, South Africa and Bolivia, and will play their first match against Italy on November 3, 6:45pm.“Playing in the U-17 World Cup will be an unforgettable experience for our young players. I hope it becomes a wonderful memory for them, just like it was for me. It is an honour for any player to represent their national team at the highest level,” said al-Tamimi.“Hosting tournaments such as the World Cup in Qatar will serve as a launch point for emerging talents and future stars. Qatar has already surpassed many developed football nations in terms of its sporting infrastructure and organisational abilities. It is now time for our young players to put Qatar amongst the top-ranked teams in the world,” he added.The FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025, taking place at the state-of-the-art Competition Complex at Aspire Zone, will see as many as eight matches a day, for a total of 104 matches. The final will take place on November 27, 7pm, at Khalifa International Stadium.Fans can purchase tickets at: www.roadtoqatar.qa Tickets are available as a Day Pass, which will enable fans to attend multiple matches a day as well as cultural and entertainment activities taking place around matches, in what will be an electrifying football festival-like atmosphere.Fans can also purchase a Prime Pass, which will enable them to reserve seats for high demand matches. Supporters of the Qatar national team can avail the Follow My Team ticket, which will enable them to attend all matches of the Qatari U-17 team during the group stage.All tickets will be digital and will include wheelchair accessible seating options for disabled fans.The FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar is the first of five consecutive editions that Qatar will be hosting. As the first FIFA World Cup to feature 48 teams, this will be the biggest-ever edition of the youth tournament that saw the likes of Gianluigi Buffon, Luis Figo, Xavi Hernandez, Eden Hazard, Andres Iniesta, Neymar, Ronaldinho, Son Heung-min and Francesco Totti appear on the world stage for the first time.Qatar’s spectacular line-up of mega-sporting events will kick off with the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar from November 3-27, followed by the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar from December 1-18. In addition, the country is also set to host the second edition of the FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2025, which will take place on December 10, 13 and 17.