FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025

The 2025 edition ushers in FIFA’s new annual cycle for the U-17 World Cup. Qatar will host every tournament through 2029, beginning with a 48-nation finals that runs from 3 to 27 November 2025. The official match schedule published by FIFA keeps the group stage inside Doha’s Aspire Zone before the medal matches switch to Khalifa International Stadium.

Group B — Morocco’s Assignment

Drawn on 25 May in Doha, Group B pairs Morocco with Asian champions Japan, Oceania runners-up New Caledonia, and European powerhouse Portugal.

• Japan (AFC) — eight-time U-17 qualifiers with a technical, high-press identity.
• Morocco (CAF) — one of ten African nations qualified, building on the 2023 continental silver medal.
• New Caledonia (OFC) — qualified via the OFC U-17 Championship final.
• Portugal (UEFA) — returning to the finals after a runner-up finish at the UEFA U-17 EURO.

Morocco’s Group-Stage Fixtures

Local kick-off times (GMT+3) and venues come directly from the Match Schedule – FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 PDF. Morocco play all three games on Aspire Zone’s competition pitches across the opening week.

Each matchday packs nine fixtures across the Aspire Zone’s configurable stadium pitches, keeping travel minimal for players and supporters.

Competition Format

• Forty-eight teams are split into 12 groups of four (A–L). The top two in each group plus the eight best third-placed teams progress to the Round of 32.
• The knockout bracket then advances through the Round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, third-place play-off, and final.
• Draw tiebreakers follow FIFA’s standard order: head-to-head points, head-to-head goal difference, head-to-head goals scored, then overall goal difference and goals scored. Fair play points and, if necessary, a drawing of lots decide any ties (per the official regulations summary in the u17-data notes).
• Knockout matches go straight to penalties if level after 90 minutes; no extra time is played.

Knockout Calendar Highlights

According to FIFA’s schedule, the path beyond the group stage looks like this:

• Round of 32: Tuesday 11 – Thursday 13 November, staged across Aspire Zone.
• Round of 16: Saturday 15 – Monday 17 November, Aspire Zone.
• Quarter-finals: Friday 21 – Monday 24 November, with late-evening kick-offs.
• Semi-finals: Tuesday 25 & Wednesday 26 November at Aspire Zone Pitch 1.
• Third-Place Match: Thursday 27 November, 15:30 at Khalifa International Stadium.
• Final: Thursday 27 November, 19:00 at Khalifa International Stadium.

Between each phase, FIFA has scheduled rest days to accommodate recovery and travel for teams sharing base hotels in Doha.

Full List of Qualified Nations

All 48 slots are confirmed through continental qualifiers (source: u17-data.txt.md):

AFC (9)

Qatar (hosts), Indonesia, Japan, Korea DPR, Korea Republic, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan

CAF (10)

Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Mali, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia

Concacaf (8)

Canada, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, USA

CONMEBOL (7)

Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Paraguay, Venezuela

OFC (3)

Fiji, New Caledonia, New Zealand

UEFA (11)

Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czechia, England, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Switzerland

Quick Reference — Past Champions

Morocco arrives in Qatar aiming to add to an honors list dominated by Africa and South America:

• First champions: Nigeria (1985).
• Most titles: Nigeria (5) and Brazil (4).
• Defending champions: Germany lifted the 2023 trophy in Indonesia.