The 20th edition of the FIFA U-17 Men's World Cup kicks off on November 3, 2025, in Qatar, featuring 48 teams for the first time in a tournament hosted across the Aspire Zone. BOMA, a desert owl mascot honoring football scouts, will symbolize the event as young talents from six confederations compete for glory. The final is set for November 27 at Khalifa International Stadium.
Qatar hosts the tournament from November 3 to 27, marking the first of five consecutive U-17 World Cups in the country and the seventh edition in Asia. All group stage and knockout matches except the final will occur at the Aspire Zone complex in Al Rayyan, utilizing eight pitches named after Qatari football legends including Mohammed Ghanim, Ibrahim Khalfan, Khaled Salman, and Mansour Muftah. The final takes place at the 45,857-capacity Khalifa International Stadium.
The 48 teams are divided into 12 groups of four, with the top two from each group and the eight best third-placed teams advancing to the Round of 32. From there, it's a knockout format without extra time, proceeding directly to penalties if tied. A total of 104 matches will be played over 25 days. The tournament streams live and free on FIFA+, with tickets available via www.roadtoqatar.qa in options like Day Pass for $5.50 and final tickets starting at $4.
Group A features hosts Qatar alongside Italy, South Africa, and Bolivia, opening with Qatar vs Italy and South Africa vs Bolivia. Other groups include Brazil in H, England in E, and France in K. Six Arab teams participate: Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Tunisia, and Egypt. Historically, 13 Arab nations have appeared, with Saudi Arabia winning in 1989 and Qatar reaching the semi-finals in 1991.
Brazil enters as favorites, seeking a record-equaling fifth title after dominating South American qualifiers. Portugal, fresh off their third UEFA U-17 Euro win, and France are strong contenders, alongside Mexico and Uzbekistan. Top players to watch include Italy's Samuele Inacio (five goals at Euros), France's Djylian N’Guessan (nine in Euro qualifiers), Argentina's Thomas de Martis (six in South American qualifiers), Uzbekistan's Sadriddin Khasanov (MVP at Asian Cup), and Morocco's Abdellah Ouazane (player of the tournament at Africa Cup of Nations).
The mascot BOMA pays tribute to scouts and legendary coach Velibor “Bora” Milutinović, who guided five nations to World Cups and aided Qatari football. Debutants include El Salvador, Fiji, Republic of Ireland, Uganda, and Zambia, while Oceania is represented by New Zealand, Fiji, and New Caledonia. Past editions launched stars like Cesc Fàbregas, Toni Kroos, and Phil Foden.