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With the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 now in full swing, young fans from around the world shared their excitement about what the tournament means to them. For Croatian aspiring footballer Viktor Karlo, 13, the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 makes his dreams feel real and within reach: "My passion is to become a professional footballer and compete on the world's biggest stage. Being here shows me what the real standards are, because these players demonstrate the commitment and competitive level you need to succeed.” Attending matches with her family, Bruna Bohrt Lijeron, 11, said that she enjoys being a part of something with the people she cares about most: "The atmosphere is exceptional. There's continuous cheering throughout and just when I think I can sit down, we stand up again to cheer.” Claudio Conte, 11, who trains with both Juventus Academy in Qatar and Al Rayyan Club, watched the opening match cheering for both sides: "I live in Qatar but I'm from Italy, so I support both. Coming here and watching these players, seeing how good they are, it makes me believe I can do it. I really hope I can make it like these players one day. Whether it's for Italy or Qatar,” said Conte. Gabriel Aguiar, 14, from Portugal, shared his excitement to be watching the future of football unfold in Qatar: "These players will be the future stars. When older players retire, they will be the fresh ones ready to give new hope and aspirations to their countries," he explained. The FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 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. Tickets can be purchased exclusively from www.roadtoqatar.qa. Tickets are available as a Day Pass, enabling fans to attend multiple matches a day, as well as fan zone activities. Fans can also purchase a Prime Pass, which enables them to reserve seats for high demand matches. Supporters of the Qatar national team can avail the Follow My Team ticket, which enables them to attend all matches of the Qatari U-17 team during the group stage. All tickets are digital and include wheelchair accessible seating options for disabled fans.

Her Excellency Minister of State for International Cooperation Dr. Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad met Wednesday with the Minister of Social Solidarity of the Arab Republic of Egypt Dr. Maya Morsi, on the sidelines of the Second World Summit for Social Development, currently held in Doha.Discussion during the meeting focused on cooperation relations and ways to support and strengthen them, in addition to several issues of mutual interest.

Her Excellency Minister of State for International Cooperation, Dr. Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad, met Wednesday with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Zambia, Mulambo Haimbe, on the sidelines of the Second World Summit for Social Development, currently held in Doha.Discussion during the meeting focused on cooperation relations and ways to support and strengthen them, in addition to several issues of mutual interest.

Her Excellency Minister of State for International Cooperation Dr. Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad met Wednesday with Assistant Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Program (WFP), Rania Dagash Kamara, on the sidelines of the Second World Summit for Social Development, currently held in Doha.The meeting discussed aspects of cooperation between the State of Qatar and the WFP, in addition to several issues of mutual interest.

Jordan's Minister of Social Development, Wafa Bani Mustafa affirmed that the Second World Summit for Social Development, currently underway in Doha, holds great importance not only for the Arab region but for the entire world, serving as a reminder of the social development agenda, which is often overshadowed by other global priorities.In remarks to Qatar News Agency (QNA) on the sidelines of her participation in the Second World Summit for Social Development, Jordan's Minister of Social Development explained that this session comes at a time not far from the completion of the implementation of the Sustainable Development Agenda, through which countries of the world are expected to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by all United Nations member states.She highlighted the importance of the State of Qatar's hosting of the Summit and of issuing, according to the agreement of the participating countries, a Doha Political Declaration. She noted that the discussions focused on key issues related to social protection, employment opportunities, youth care, empowerment of women and persons with disabilities, in addition to the importance of early preparedness for social responses to crises and shocks. She emphasized that this summit represents a true opportunity to learn from various experiences and to develop national mechanisms for social response.Regarding her country's efforts in the issue of persons with disabilities, she told QNA that Jordan is one of the pioneering countries in integrating persons with disabilities into society. She pointed out that Jordan hosted the Third Global Disability Summit (GDS 2025) earlier this year, which resulted in the "Amman-Berlin Declaration," one of the declarations that highlighted the importance of inclusion, integration, and the allocation of budgets within national development programs.She underlined that the Jordanian Ministry of Social Development works on disability issues as part of an integrated national system, specializing in the transition from institutional and residential care to family and community-based alternative care. This approach, she said, is at the core of the integration process and aims to prevent the exclusion and isolation of persons with disabilities.She also referred to Jordan's Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities of 2017, which led to the creation of a national strategy and a ten-year plan aimed at ending institutional care by the end of 2027.She noted that, as a leadership of the National Social Protection Strategy, the Ministry of Social Development oversees an important pillar called "FORSA" (Opportunity), which includes an executive plan for the employment of persons with disabilities. This initiative focuses on qualifying and training this group for decent and empowering job opportunities, enabling them to achieve the main goal of living independently, she added.Jordan's Minister of Social Development, Wafa Bani Mustafa, stressed the importance of early investment in enhancing social services and in training and rehabilitating persons with disabilities, with the aim of reducing future costs and empowering this group to have independent sources of income and to live just like any other segment of society.

Her Excellency Minister of State for International Cooperation Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad met on Wednesday with the Minister of Social Development and Acting Minister of State for Relief Affairs of the State of Palestine Dr. Samah Hamad, on the sidelines of the Second World Summit for Social Development 2025, currently taking place in Doha.The meeting reviewed the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and explored mechanisms to meet basic needs and accelerate their delivery. The two sides also discussed several issues of mutual interest.

A session on protecting families during wars and conflicts was held today as part of the Second World Summit for Social Development, currently underway in Doha.The session highlighted the State of Qatar's leading efforts in resolving regional and international conflicts. Speaking at the session, Acting Director of the Human Rights Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sarah Abdullah Al Saadi, affirmed Qatar's pioneering role in reuniting separated families in several conflict zones. She highlighted Qatar's efforts in Russia, Ukraine, Gaza, and Afghanistan, which have contributed to restoring stability and reuniting numerous families affected by war.Al Saadi also stressed the importance of safeguarding families during conflicts and warned against the consequences of family fragmentation. She called for enhanced international cooperation and the adoption of sustainable policies to address these challenges.

Highlighting that education is the core pillar for development, Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, United Nations Advocate for the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Founder of Education Above All (EAA) Foundation and the Chairperson of Qatar Foundation (QF) noted Tuesday that there can be no development amidst discrimination, no stability with marginalisation, no prosperity amid exclusion.She was delivering the keynote address at the high-level session on 'Education as the Foundation of the New Social Contract for Social justice and Development' at the Second World Summit for Sustainable Development (WSSD2) being held at Qatar National Convention Centre.**media[377721]**Her Highness noted that the world must never accept the reality that there are 272mn out-of-school children, according to 2023 Unesco figures.She explained: “The grim figures and statistics carry with them a distressing message, one that appeals to the conscience of humanity. They call for our immediate mobilisation to transform policies and mandates into actions and achievements. Social development is not a fixed matrix, nor is it a set of hollow rhetoric, or a publicity stunt, or a façade masking veiled truths. Rather, it is the story of an individual who uplifts their community when given a fair chance, and who achieves the extraordinary when granted a genuine opportunity to innovate.**media[377720]**“Education is the core pillar for development; there can be no development without knowledge and no renaissance without an enlightened mind. Education is not a luxury, nor a privilege, nor a favour to be granted. It is a right, a responsibility, and a tool to liberate the mind, build human capacity, safeguard our values and generate ideas to reshape our world. To achieve a real sustainable development as we envision it, education must be recognised as equal in importance to development itself, advancing together on the same track.”The founder of EAA Foundation said that much is said about development, but people often refrain from closely examining its true essence.**media[377717]**“Its most prominent pillar is human beings themselves, who make up the heart of social development and its ultimate purpose. If we consider human beings our most valuable assets, then education remains the most enduring form of capital investment. They are the spring from which the streams of progress flow and the foundation upon which the pillars of sustainable development are erected,” Her Highness highlighted.She said that success in achieving sustainable development is not only reserved for those with more abundant resources, but for those who possess the wisdom to invest and manage it effectively.“This is the vision that drove us in Qatar to establish a path of development that places young people in their rightful role as shapers of the future, as learners, innovators, entrepreneurs, and citizens engaged in decision-making. This inspiring vision has led to remarkable achievements by Qatar: successfully utilising natural resources, empowering human capital, and generating meaningful job opportunities that replace traditional job duplication. With a deep-rooted belief that the Sustainable Development Goals are interconnected, Qatar has exerted every effort to instill the foundations of peace and the pillars of diplomacy as the cornerstones of its social development goals,” stressed the QF Chairperson.**media[377718]**She noted that education is the sum of all sectors saying: “There can be no economy, politics, healthcare, culture or even a sustainable ecosystem without education. And if we fail to advance education with innovative sustainable solutions that align with the accelerating technological advancements of our world, then no development project, be it economic, cultural, or social, will succeed, and we will remain trapped in the cycle of failure, regression, and powerlessness, and we will lose our footing in the landscape of development. To the extent that we invest in education, we can better shape a future for humanity.”“This is an ongoing effort that enables the individual to demand from their nations what is unattainable elsewhere: a sense of contentment in belonging and the legitimacy to dream: To dream of a future with unlimited potential, one that encompasses the breadth of the human condition, everything from the primordial cave to the mysterious frontiers of space, from the darkness of ignorance to the light of knowledge. Let us dream of a more luminous dream—a shared all-encompassing dream: the dream of development,” Sheikha Moza.UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres delivered another keynote address at the session, highlighting that education is the foundation of a renewed social policy, anchored in human rights, social justice, and inclusion.

The FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 continued Tuesday with some impressive team performances, including Brazil finding the net seven times against Honduras, while Venezuela beating fancied England in style.Egypt, North Korea, South Korea, Switzerland and Zambia also enjoyed winning debuts, while Colombia and Germany served up the most exciting encounter on the day in a share of the spoils.In Group E, Venezuela produced an exceptional all-round display to earn a famous 3-0 win over England. The South Americans hit the front when captain Roman Davis rifled home from a tight angle. If that goal was good, their second was even better, with Dioner Fuentes curling a wonderful strike into the top corner. Substitute Eider Barrios made it three late on with a close-range finish.England coach Neil Ryan was naturally frustrated with the result. Ryan said: “We’re very disappointed with the scoreline. We created five or six clear chances to score and of course that comes back to haunt you. But it’s only the first game of the group stage. We’re going to keep really positive and work hard to go into the next game and make things right.”Egypt sailed past Haiti 1-4. The Young Pharaohs made a triumphant return to the competition for the first time since a 2-1 quarter-final loss to Xavi and Spain in 1997. Belal Attia, Abdelaziz Elzoghby and Hamza Abdelkarim all sparkled and scored for Ahmed Elkass’s side, while Nikolai Pierre’s sumptuous curler gave Haiti hope before the break. Egypt’s victory was sealed when Omar Kamal headed home a devilish Attia delivery.Egypt coach Ahmed El Kass said: “I am very happy with the result today for two reasons: first we have always had slow starts in past tournaments, and also because we feel that we have made the Egyptian people happy – both here and at home.”In Group H Brazil thrashed Honduras 7-0. Dell struck a predatory double, while wonder goals from Ruan Pablo and Felipe Morais had Brazil cruising at the break. Thereafter, a Vitor Hugo header, a glorious strike from Angelo and an admirable Gabriel Mec effort ensured the four-time champions made an emphatic statement of intent.Felipe Morais, Brazil midfielder, said: "Our goal was to start well in the tournament and that's what we did. We executed everything we trained since our preparation until here. I'm very happy for the goal. This gives me even more confidence for the next matches."Zambia capped their inaugural match in the global finals with a thrilling comeback 1-3 victory over Indonesia, highlighted by a quickfire brace from Abel Nyirongo. Indonesia, the 2023 hosts, took an early lead through an opportunistic strike from Zahaby Gholy. But Zambia quickly fought back thanks to two goals in as many minutes from Nyirongo, with Lukonde Mwale ensuring the triumph just before the break.Defending champions Germany were held to a 1-1 draw by Colombia in a Group G tie. Marc-Patrick Meister’s Mannschaft and Fredy Hurtado’s Tricolor played out an exciting, evenly-matched stalemate. Just 16 seconds were on the clock when Toni Langsteiner scored the third-fastest goal in the tournament’s 40-year history. Criss Macias almost equalised following a swashbuckling surge through the German defence, before Juan Catano did grab Colombia a point by fizzing home a loose ball from the edge of the box.Colombia coach Freddy Hurtado was pleased with a draw against the holders. He said: "We began the match and got behind early. The opener is the hardest match, and more so against Germany. The guys competed well and we are happy with this point. Obviously we wanted more, but now our focus is on the next game."North Korea routed El Salvador 2-0 as Ri Kang-rim and Kim Yu-jin each bagged braces. Korea started on the front foot and broke the deadlock on a slashing run from Ri, whose shot deflected in off the fingertips of El Salvador goalkeeper Oliver Alegria.El Salvador tried to respond, but a late first half penalty following a video review saw Kim double the lead for the Asian side. They added some insurance in the second stanza when El Salvador failed to clear a free-kick and Ri easily tapped home, followed by late goals from Kim and Han Il-bok.In Group F, Switzerland recorded an 4-1 impressive victory in their opening fixture, with two goals in each half against Cote d'Ivoire. Captain Gil Zufferey opened the scoring when he tried his luck from long range with a dipping strike that evaded opposing skipper Christ Kouassi.Adrien Llukes doubled the advantage before the interval, following up to convert after his own penalty had been saved by the unfortunate Kouassi. Giacomo Koloto was released to calmly convert the third, with Jill Stiel smashing home a spectacular fourth before Hubert Yao’s consolation for the African side.South Korea edged out Mexico 2-1 in a compelling Group F clash. Koo Hyeonbin put his team in front with an instinctive finish, before Aldo De Nigris headed Mexico level. The Koreans went back ahead early in the second half when Nam Ian netted after a fast counter-attack, and then defended resolutely to secure maximum points.South Korea’s goalscorer and Player of the Match Koo Hyeonbin said: “Playing as one team was the key to winning the game. Although Mexico had a good start to the game, we had very good communication between ourselves and we overcame those problems.”

From the first minute to the last of Qatar’s FIFA U-17 World Cup showdown with Italy on Monday, the home fans backed their team with incessant noise and passion, creating an intoxicating buzz at the Aspire Zone complex.The match concluded a thrilling opening day at the newly-expanded tournament, which featured eight matches and 27 goals. The hosts ultimately went down 1-0 to their illustrious opponents, who mixed class, steel and poise to bank a hard-fought win. Samuele Inacio netted the game’s only goal and, speaking to FIFA, explained why the carnival atmosphere ensured it was an occasion to savour.“It was amazing,” said the Borussia Dortmund striker, fresh from being presented with his Player of the Match prize. “We were playing against the home team, so it was crazy. To play in this fantastic atmosphere and win makes us very proud. The key was the focus. We stayed together. We have a lot of confidence for this tournament. We did a great EURO (reaching the semi-finals), and we are ready to have a great World Cup.”Italy captain Benit Borasio wore a beaming smile as he reflected on his U-17 World Cup debut. “The atmosphere was incredible,” he said. “Even if the fans are against you, it gives you energy. That emotion transmits to you. The pitch was also perfect. It was great.”Qatar coach Alvaro Mejia witnessed his team go toe to toe against a top-quality outfit. The host nation steadfastly hunted an equaliser following Inacio’s strike, but could not find a way through Italy’s well-drilled backline. Mejia declared the squad’s collective hunger to reward their vibrant support when they return to action against South Africa tomorrow“Here in Qatar, everyone loves football,” he said. “They love to be part of it. The atmosphere was beautiful. It was colourful all around. For the people to watch players at this age – who very soon are going to be on TV and will be stars – it’s something amazing.“I am happy with how we performed against one of the strongest teams. The idea was to go out and compete. We competed. I am proud of the players and now we are going to come back against another strong team in South Africa. Let’s try to give the best of ourselves for all the people who are coming here to support. We have to push ourselves to the limits.”The game’s winning goal was fitting for the stage. Centre-back Borasio arrowed a sensational defence-splitting pass into the path of Inacio, who finished clinically into the bottom corner. “It was a good assist from Benit,” said Inacio of his skipper’s contribution. “I didn’t expect it, to be honest! It was a great pass. To have a captain like him is fantastic. He has a lot of responsibility, and he takes us with him.”Borasio, who plays his club football for Juventus, was a towering presence in the Italy backline throughout the contest. His comfort in possession was also eye-catching, and it came as little surprise to learn he formerly played higher up the pitch. “In the past, I played in the middle, like a CDM (defensive midfielder). Now I play centre-back. I like to play there, because I can drive with the ball and pass through the lines to my mates.”On the honour of leading his nation out at Qatar 2025, Borasio added: “It’s amazing to be captain for Italy, especially in the World Cup. You feel the responsibility for your team and for your country. It is a great feeling.” (fifa.com)

President of the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) Annalena Baerbock stated that Tuesday's adoption of the Doha Political Declaration represents a crucial step towards achieving inclusive social development that leaves no one behind, and that Doha should be the final stage on this path that began in Copenhagen three decades ago. In her address at the opening session of the Second World Summit for Social Development — ​​Doha 2025, she recalled the experience shaped by the 1995 Copenhagen Conference, saying: "Copenhagen taught us 30 years ago that social development and inclusion is essential for strong societies. Today, Doha must go the last mile and teach us how to leave no one behind, end social injustice, and guarantee dignity for everyone." Baerbock added that the past three decades have seen "tangible progress," saying: "Unemployment, which stood at 1bn people, 30% of the global workforce in 1995 fell to a historic low of 5% in 2024." However, she noted that "economic growth alone has been insufficient to pull people in all regions out of poverty," as gaps widen and structural imbalances persist, leaving millions marginalised. On these gaps, she pointed out that girls in many countries find themselves left behind for reasons beyond their control. She added, "Copenhagen has allowed millions to take a step forward. But far too many have remained stuck or have even fallen further back. 800mn people still live in extreme poverty. In some countries, half of the girls do not even go to primary school.” Baerbock continued by saying: "While unemployment has fallen to 5% globally, this hides vast disparities. For instance, unemployment stands at less than 1% in some countries, yet it amounts to more than 20% in others. And young people remain three times more likely to be unemployed. These are undeniable facts, and we must join forces in order to make life fair for everyone work towards a world that is fair to everyone, regardless of their birthplace or circumstances.” Regarding shared challenges, she emphasized that the climate crisis is the biggest obstacle to social development, noting that climate disasters cause the collapse of social services and an immediate decline in GDP. Just last week, Hurricane Melissa barreled through the Caribbean, causing $2bn in losses. Such disasters directly account for at least $200bn in annual losses, she said, adding: "If we continue like this, it is estimated that if the planet warms by more than two degrees, almost 200mn more people could face food insecurity.” She said that hunger and poverty are also drivers of displacement. And displacement, in turn, leads to insecurity and instability. Thus begins a vicious circle, stressing that the opportunity still exists to reduce emissions and keep the temperature rise below two degrees. "Fighting the climate crisis and ending hunger and poverty is not merely an act of charity. It is a matter of security and self-interest for all countries.” Baerbock also called for the adoption of interconnected solutions for social development, noting that the Doha Declaration, as well as the SDGs, call for holistic strategies because eradicating hunger cannot be achieved in isolation from education, equality, or decent work. They are not separate 17 goals, but rather an integrated framework where advancement in one area accelerates progress in others, she said. Baerbock affirmed that the Doha Declaration was formulated with everyone's participation and delivering on this all together in unity won't be easy. "With the Declaration just adopted, with the promises we made, to level the playing field for all, once and forever," she added It is worth noting that the opening session of the conference witnessed the formal adoption of the Doha Political Declaration by the President of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly. The declaration was agreed upon through an intergovernmental negotiation process held at the UN in New York. According to the UN, this declaration represents a pivotal moment in the global effort to accelerate social progress, eradicate poverty, and build more inclusive, just, and sustainable societies.

The Minister of Social, Family and Childhood Affairs of Kuwait Dr. Amthal Al Huwailah stated that women in the region and the world are a driving force for positive transformation and for building a more inclusive, just, and equitable future for all, adding that investing in women is not only a commitment to equality but a genuine investment in creating sustainable solutions for entire societies.This came in Dr. Al Huwailah's speech at the opening of the high-level side event "SheBuilds: Women Innovating Social Solutions for an Inclusive Future," held as part of the 2nd World Summit for Social Development, and attended by HE Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi and UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) Representative to the Gulf States and Yemen and Director of the Unesco Regional Office in Doha Salah El Din Zaki Khaled.Dr. Al Huwailah said that the event celebrates women's creativity in social development and their ability to devise solutions that make a real difference in communities and people's lives. She noted that women-led social innovation is inherently inclusive, grounded in a deep understanding of marginalized groups' needs and dedicated to removing barriers to participation in development.Women do not only come up with ideas, rather they are redefining the very meaning of development and justice from a human-centered perspective, Dr. Al Huwailah continued, adding that the workshop will begin with a brief presentation on women-led innovation in Kuwait, showcasing real-life stories and experiences of Kuwaiti women who have creatively and constructively addressed social challenges.She further said that participants will engage in an interactive experience, a journey of thought and practice that begins with inspiration and culminates in creativity, aiming to empower participants to adopt an innovative mindset in tackling social challenges by transforming ideas into practical, applicable solutions.