The 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup began on November 3 in Qatar with eight opening matches at the Aspire Zone Competition Complex. Hosts Qatar suffered a 1-0 loss to Italy in their Group A opener, setting the tone for the expanded 48-team tournament running through November 27.
The tournament, marking the first of five consecutive U-17 World Cups in Qatar and the first with 48 teams, features 104 matches across 12 groups. The top two teams from each group, plus the eight best third-placed sides, advance to the Round of 32, with the final set for November 27 at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha.
Qatar's narrow defeat to Italy came at the renamed Mansour Muftah pitch, one of eight venues honoring Qatari football legends. HE Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani, Local Organising Committee Chairman, emphasized the event's significance: "We are proud to host the first-ever 48-team FIFA tournament, which will showcase football’s exceptional emerging talent and celebrate the sport’s power in uniting people from all around the world." He added that it continues Aspire Academy's role in producing elite athletes and strengthens Qatar's status as a global sporting destination.
Other opening-day results included strong performances from African teams. Egypt secured a 4-1 victory over Haiti in Group E, with goals from Belal Attia, Abdelaziz El Zoghby, Hamza Abdelkarim, and Omar Kamal. Zambia came from behind to beat Indonesia 3-1 in Group H, thanks to a brace from Abel Nyirongo and a goal from Lukonde Mwale. However, Cote d’Ivoire fell 4-1 to Switzerland in Group F, with Hubert Yao scoring a late consolation.
Additional results saw Venezuela defeat England 3-0 in Group E and Brazil thrash Honduras 7-0 in Group H. In Group B, Japan faced Morocco on November 3, though specific details on that match were limited to pre-game lineups and actions involving players like Shota Fujii and Ziyad Baha.
Debutants include Fiji, Republic of Ireland, Zambia, El Salvador, and Uganda. Qatar aims to surpass its best finish of fourth place from the 1991 edition. Tickets are available via www.roadtoqatar.qa, with options like Day Passes and Follow My Team packages for Qatar supporters. The fan zone offers live screenings, cultural performances, and diverse activations on match days from 1:30 p.m.
