The 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup is entering its most intense and decisive phase as the Round of 16 kicks off on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at the world-class Aspire Zone complex in Al Rayyan, Qatar. After an action-packed Round of 32 held on November 14–15, the tournament has reached a crucial turning point in the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup round of 16, with sixteen of the world’s most talented youth national teams securing their spots in the knockout stage.
This year’s edition has already delivered thrilling performances, surprise results, and breakout stars who are showcasing the next generation of global football talent.
As the competition now shifts into the do-or-die phase, each match in the Round of 16 becomes a direct battle for survival, where a single victory sends a team into the quarterfinals, and a single mistake could end their World Cup dream.
With all fixtures scheduled to be played in a single, high-intensity matchday, fans can expect a full day of drama, tactical brilliance, and rising stars competing on one of youth football’s biggest stages. Below is the complete date-wise schedule, kick-off timeounds, and venue details for the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup Round of 16.
2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup Round of 16 Round of 16 Overview
Table of Contents
The Round of 16 represents the first stage where all participating teams are confirmed knockout-stage winners, having survived both the group stage and the Round of 32. This stage determines which eight teams advance to the quarterfinals on November 21, 2025.
Tournament Context:
- Date: Tuesday, November 18, 2025
- Venue: Aspire Zone, Al Rayyan, Qatar
- Total Matches: 8
- Format: Single elimination (no extra time, direct to penalties if tied)
- Rest Days: November 16-17 before Round of 16; November 19-20 after
Complete Round of 16 Match Schedule
Based on the official Wikipedia bracket and confirmed by FIFA sources, here are all eight Round of 16 matches:
Match 89: Mexico vs Portugal (0-5)
- Date: Tuesday, November 18, 2025
- Time: TBD (Expected 12:30 PM GMT / 3:30 PM Local)
- Venue: Aspire Zone Pitch (TBD)
- Round of 32 Path:
- Mexico: Defeated Argentina 2-2 (5-4 on penalties)
- Portugal: Defeated Belgium 2-1
- Head-to-Head: First U-17 World Cup meeting
- Key Players: Mexico’s Luis Gamboa (2 goals in R32), Portugal’s Anísio Cabral (2 goals in tournament)
Match Preview:
Mexico pulled off one of the tournament’s biggest upsets by eliminating top-seeded Argentina on penalties after a dramatic 2-2 draw. Portugal advanced with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Belgium, with goals from Cabral securing their progression. This clash pits CONCACAF’s resilient underdogs against UEFA’s technically skilled Portuguese side.
Match 90: Austria vs England (4-0)
- Date: Tuesday, November 18, 2025
- Time: TBD (Expected 1:00 PM GMT / 4:00 PM Local)
- Venue: Aspire Zone Pitch (TBD)
- Round of 32 Path:
- Austria: Defeated Tunisia 2-0
- England: Defeated South Korea 2-0
- Group Stage Records:
- Austria: 9 points (3W-0D-0L, +7 GD) – Group L Winners
- England: 6 points (2W-0D-1L, +7 GD) – Group E Runners-up
Match Preview:
Austria enters as one of only three teams with a perfect group stage record (alongside Argentina and Italy), having won all three group matches before defeating Tunisia.
England bounced back from their opening loss to Venezuela by hammering Haiti 8-1 and Egypt 3-0, then dispatching South Korea 2-0 in the Round of 32 with goals including a Jung Hui-seop own goal. This European clash features two teams in excellent form.
Match 91: Italy vs Uzbekistan (3-2)
- Date: Tuesday, November 18, 2025
- Time: TBD (Expected 1:30 PM GMT / 4:30 PM Local)
- Venue: Aspire Zone Pitch (TBD)
- Round of 32 Path:
- Italy: Defeated Czech Republic 2-0.
- Uzbekistan: Defeated Croatia 1-1 (4-3 on penalties)
- Group Stage Records:
- Italy: 9 points (3W-0D-0L, +7 GD) – Group A Winners
- Uzbekistan: 6 points (2W-0D-1L, +5 GD) – Group J Runners-up
Match Preview:
Italy maintained their perfect tournament record with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Czech Republic in the Round of 32. Uzbekistan advanced through dramatic penalty shootout after drawing 1-1 with Croatia, with Sadriddin Khasanov scoring their goal before the spot-kicks. Italy’s clinical finishing meets Uzbekistan’s resilience in this intriguing East-West matchup.
Match 92: Morocco vs Mali (3-2)
- Date: Tuesday, November 18, 2025
- Time: TBD (Expected 2:00 PM GMT / 5:00 PM Local)
- Venue: Aspire Zone Pitch (TBD)
- Round of 32 Path:
- Morocco: Defeated United States 1-1 (4-3 on penalties)
- Mali: Defeated Zambia 3-1
- Both teams: African representatives progressing deep into the knockout rounds
- Head-to-Head: First meeting at U-17 World Cup level
Match Preview:
Morocco pulled off a stunning upset by eliminating the United States on penalties after Abdellah Ouazane’s 90th-minute equalizer forced spot-kicks. Mali dominated Zambia 3-1 to advance comfortably in their Round of 32 clash. This all-African showdown features two CAF nations with contrasting pathways – Morocco’s dramatic penalties versus Mali’s dominant performance.
Match 93: Brazil vs France (1(4)-1(5))
- Date: Tuesday, November 18, 2025
- Time: TBD (Expected 2:45 PM GMT / 5:45 PM Local)
- Venue: Aspire Zone Pitch (TBD)
- Round of 32 Path:
- Brazil: Defeated Paraguay 0-0 (5-4 on penalties)
- France: Defeated Colombia 2-0
- Tournament Pedigree: Brazil (4-time champions) vs. France (1-time champion 2001)
- Group Stage: Both teams won their respective groups
Match Preview:
This marquee matchup features two football powerhouses with rich youth tournament histories. Brazil survived a penalty shootout against Paraguay after a goalless draw, maintaining their perfect tournament record in regulation time. France advanced comfortably with a 2-0 victory over Colombia through goals from Antoine Valero and Pierre Mounguengue. This clash represents the tournament’s most anticipated Round of 16 fixture.
Match 94: Uganda vs Burkina Faso (1(3)-1(5))
- Date: Tuesday, November 18, 2025
- Time: TBD (Expected 3:15 PM GMT / 6:15 PM Local)
- Venue: Aspire Zone Pitch (TBD)
- Round of 32 Path:
- Uganda: Defeated Senegal 1-0
- Burkina Faso: Defeated Germany 1-0
- Historic Significance: Uganda’s debut World Cup run continues
- Giant-Killers: Both teams eliminated higher-seeded opponents
Match Preview: Uganda continued their fairytale debut World Cup with a stunning 1-0 upset over Senegal through Abubakar Walusimbi’s 15th-minute goal. Burkina Faso shocked defending champions Germany 1-0 with Mohamed Zongo’s early fifth-minute strike. This all-African clash features two of the tournament’s most impressive giant-killers, both making historic deep runs.
Match 95: North Korea vs Japan (1(4)-1(5))
- Date: Tuesday, November 18, 2025
- Time: TBD (Expected 3:45 PM GMT / 6:45 PM Local)
- Venue: Aspire Zone Pitch (TBD)
- Round of 32 Path:
- North Korea: Defeated Venezuela 2-1
- Japan: Defeated South Africa 3-0
- Asian Showdown: AFC representatives battling for quarterfinal spot
- Key Players: North Korea’s Kim Yu-jin (2 goals) vs. Japan’s attacking trio
Match Preview:
North Korea overcame Venezuela 2-1 with Kim Yu-jin scoring both goals (13′ and 31′ penalty) to seal their progression. Japan cruised past South Africa with a dominant 3-0 victory, maintaining their strong tournament form. This Asian derby promises tactical intrigue as North Korea’s defensive solidity meets Japan’s technical superiority.
Match 96: Switzerland vs Ireland (3-1)
- Date: Tuesday, November 18, 2025
- Time: TBD (Expected 3:45 PM GMT / 6:45 PM Local)
- Venue: Aspire Zone Pitch (TBD)
- Round of 32 Path:
- Switzerland: Defeated Egypt 3-1
- Republic of Ireland: Defeated Canada 1-1 (9-8 on penalties)
- Contrasting Paths: Switzerland’s comfortable win vs. Ireland’s penalty drama
- Tournament Pedigree: Switzerland (2009 champions) vs. Ireland (debut tournament)
Match Preview:
Switzerland cruised to a 3-1 win over Egypt, conceding a late goal but staying in control throughout. The Republic of Ireland edged past Canada in a dramatic penalty shootout, winning 9-8 after Michael Noonan’s 65th-minute strike was leveled late by Sergei Kozlovskiy. This matchup brings together Switzerland’s seasoned experience and Ireland’s fairytale debut journey.
Round of 16 Qualified Teams Summary By Confederation
| Confederation | Teams Qualified | Teams |
|---|---|---|
| UEFA (Europe) | 6 | Austria, England, France, Italy, Portugal, Switzerland |
| CAF (Africa) | 4 | Burkina Faso, Mali, Morocco, Uganda |
| CONCACAF | 2 | Mexico, Republic of Ireland |
| CONMEBOL | 1 | Brazil |
| AFC (Asia) | 3 | Japan, North Korea, Uzbekistan |
Round of 32 Results
Friday, November 14, 2025:
- Portugal 2-1 Belgium (Cabral 38′, 45+1′; Fernandez 45+5′)
- Switzerland 3-1 Egypt (3 Swiss goals; Anas Roshdy 90+1′)
- France 2-0 Colombia (Valero 14′, Mounguengue 90+4′)
- Argentina 2-2 Mexico (4-5 pens) (Gamboa 46′, 58′ for Mexico)
- Republic of Ireland 1-1 Canada (9-8 pens) (M. Noonan 65′; Kozlovskiy 85′)
- United States 1-1 Morocco (3-4 pens) (Terry 21′; Ouazane 90′)
- Brazil 0-0 Paraguay (5-4 pens)
- Mali 3-1 Zambia (Simute 63′ for Zambia)
Saturday, November 15, 2025:
- Uganda 1-0 Senegal (Walusimbi 15′)
- England 2-0 South Korea (Jung own goal 28′, Heskey 35′)
- Italy 2-0 Czech Republic
- Japan 3-0 South Africa
- Burkina Faso 1-0 Germany (Zongo 5′)
- North Korea 2-1 Venezuela (Kim Yu-jin 13′, 31′ pen; Uribe 62′)
- Austria 2-0 Tunisia
- Uzbekistan 1-1 Croatia (4-3 pens) (Khasanov 24′; Kusanović 81′)
Venue Information
All Round of 16 matches will be played at Aspire Zone complex in Al Rayyan, Qatar. The eight pitches within the complex will host the matches-
Aspire Zone Pitches:
- Pitch 1: Mohammed Ghanim Pitch
- Pitch 2: Khalfan Ibrahim Pitch
- Pitch 3: Badr Bilal Pitch
- Pitch 4: Khalid Salman Pitch
- Pitch 5: Khaled Ballan Pitch
- Pitch 7: Mansour Muftah Pitch
- Pitch 8: Mahmoud Soufi Pitch
- Pitch 9: Adel Ahmed Malalla Pitch
Tournament Rules and Format
No Extra Time Rule:
- If matches end in a draw after 90 minutes, no extra time is played
- Winners determined directly by a penalty shootout
- This rule applies to all knockout rounds except potentially the final
Quarterfinals Schedule
Date: Friday, November 21, 2025
Matches: 4 quarterfinal matches
Rest Days: November 19-20 before quarterfinals
The eight Round of 16 winners will advance to compete for semifinal spots in the final week of the tournament.
