The 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup will be held in Qatar from November 3-27, 2025, featuring an unprecedented 48 teams in the tournament’s first expanded format. All the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup Teams will be divided into 12 groups of 4 teams each for the group stage. The tournament marks a historic shift as it becomes the first FIFA competition to adopt the 48-team format and transitions from a biennial to an annual event.
This 20th edition of the FIFA U-17 World Cup will be the first of five consecutive tournaments hosted by Qatar from 2025 to 2029, marking a new era in youth football development. The tournament will feature 104 matches over 25 days, significantly more than previous editions.
The tournament format includes a group stage with 12 groups of four teams, where the top two teams from each group plus the eight best third-placed teams advance to the Round of 32, creating a knockout phase with 32 teams. From there, teams progress through the Round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, and the final on November 27 at Khalifa International Stadium.
Germany is the defending champion, having won their first title at the 2023 tournament in Indonesia. The tournament will be played entirely within the Aspire Zone in Doha, using eight world-class venues, offering fans a unique centralized experience.
All 48 teams have now qualified through continental competitions and are prepared for the world’s biggest youth football event. The qualification process involved teams from six FIFA confederations competing for their respective allocated spots.
The tournament will showcase the future stars of world football, with previous participants including Luis Figo, Francesco Totti, Ronaldinho, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Neymar, and Phil Foden, who all graduated from U-17 World Cup tournaments.
2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup Teams
Table of Contents
The qualified teams for the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup are organized into a group stage format with 12 groups of four teams each. The draw was held on May 25, 2025, in Doha, Qatar, determining the group stage matchups.
FIFA allocated qualification slots to the continental confederations as follows, ensuring representation from all regions of the world
- AFC (Asia): 9 teams, including host Qatar
- UEFA (Europe): 11 teams
- CAF (Africa): 10 teams
- CONCACAF (North, Central America, and the Caribbean): 8 teams
- CONMEBOL (South America): 6 teams
- OFC (Oceania): 4 teams
The 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup draw was conducted with teams seeded into four pots based on their performance in the past five editions of the U-17 World Cup, with more recent tournament results weighted more heavily.
Here is the complete list of all 48 qualified 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup Teams:
| S No | Country | Confederation | Qualification Method | Group | Previous U-17 World Cup Appearances |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Qatar | AFC | Host Nation | A | First appearance |
| 2 | Italy | UEFA | UEFA Qualification | A | Multiple appearances |
| 3 | South Africa | CAF | U-17 AFCON Qualification | A | Previous appearances |
| 4 | Bolivia | CONMEBOL | CONMEBOL Qualification | A | Previous appearances |
| 5 | Japan | AFC | AFC U-17 Asian Cup | B | Multiple appearances |
| 6 | Morocco | CAF | U-17 AFCON Winners | B | Multiple appearances |
| 7 | New Caledonia | OFC | OFC U-17 Championship | B | Previous appearances |
| 8 | Portugal | UEFA | UEFA U-17 Championship | B | Multiple appearances |
| 9 | Senegal | CAF | U-17 AFCON Qualification | C | Defending U-17 AFCON champions |
| 10 | Croatia | UEFA | UEFA Qualification | C | Previous appearances |
| 11 | Costa Rica | CONCACAF | CONCACAF U-17 Qualifiers | C | 10 previous appearances |
| 12 | United Arab Emirates | AFC | AFC U-17 Asian Cup | C | Previous appearances |
| 13 | Argentina | CONMEBOL | CONMEBOL Qualification | D | Multiple appearances |
| 14 | Belgium | UEFA | UEFA Qualification | D | Previous appearances |
| 15 | Tunisia | CAF | U-17 AFCON Qualification | D | Previous appearances |
| 16 | Fiji | OFC | OFC U-17 Championship | D | Newcomer |
| 17 | England | UEFA | UEFA Qualification | E | 2017 World Cup Winners |
| 18 | Venezuela | CONMEBOL | CONMEBOL Qualification | E | Previous appearances |
| 19 | Haiti | CONCACAF | CONCACAF U-17 Qualifiers | E | 2 previous appearances (2007, 2019) |
| 20 | Egypt | CAF | U-17 AFCON Play-off Winner | E | Previous appearances |
| 21 | Mexico | CONCACAF | CONCACAF U-17 Qualifiers | F | 15 previous appearances |
| 22 | South Korea | AFC | AFC U-17 Asian Cup | F | Previous appearances |
| 23 | Ivory Coast | CAF | U-17 AFCON Qualification | F | Previous appearances |
| 24 | Switzerland | UEFA | UEFA Qualification | F | 2009 World Cup Winners |
| 25 | Germany | UEFA | UEFA Qualification | G | Defending Champions (2023) |
| 26 | Colombia | CONMEBOL | CONMEBOL Qualification | G | Previous appearances |
| 27 | North Korea | AFC | AFC U-17 Asian Cup | G | Previous appearances |
| 28 | El Salvador | CONCACAF | CONCACAF U-17 Qualifiers | G | Debut appearance |
| 29 | Brazil | CONMEBOL | CONMEBOL Qualification | H | Tied for most appearances (19) |
| 30 | Honduras | CONCACAF | CONCACAF U-17 Qualifiers | H | 5 previous appearances |
| 31 | Indonesia | AFC | AFC U-17 Asian Cup | H | Previous host (2023) |
| 32 | Zambia | CAF | U-17 AFCON Qualification | H | Newcomer |
| 33 | United States | CONCACAF | CONCACAF U-17 Qualifiers | I | Tied for most appearances (19) |
| 34 | Burkina Faso | CAF | U-17 AFCON Qualification | I | Previous appearances |
| 35 | Tajikistan | AFC | AFC U-17 Asian Cup | I | Previous appearances |
| 36 | Czech Republic | UEFA | UEFA Qualification | I | Previous appearances |
| 37 | Paraguay | CONMEBOL | CONMEBOL Qualification | J | Previous appearances |
| 38 | Uzbekistan | AFC | AFC U-17 Asian Cup | J | Previous appearances |
| 39 | Panama | CONCACAF | CONCACAF U-17 Qualifiers | J | 3 previous appearances |
| 40 | Republic of Ireland | UEFA | UEFA Qualification | J | Newcomer |
| 41 | France | UEFA | UEFA U-17 Championship | K | 3-time winners (2004, 2015, 2022) |
| 42 | Chile | CONMEBOL | CONMEBOL Qualification | K | Previous appearances |
| 43 | Canada | CONCACAF | CONCACAF U-17 Qualifiers | K | 8 previous appearances |
| 44 | Uganda | CAF | U-17 AFCON Play-off Winner | K | Debut appearance |
| 45 | Mali | CAF | U-17 AFCON Qualification | L | Previous appearances |
| 46 | New Zealand | OFC | OFC U-17 Championship | L | Previous appearances |
| 47 | Austria | UEFA | UEFA Qualification | L | Previous appearances |
| 48 | Saudi Arabia | AFC | AFC U-17 Asian Cup | L | 1989 World Cup Winners |
AFC (Asian Football Confederation): 9 Teams
- Total Teams – 47 participating in qualifiers
- Teams Qualified – 9 (including host Qatar)
- Qualified Teams: Qatar (host), Japan, South Korea, Uzbekistan, Indonesia, UAE, North Korea, Tajikistan, Saudi Arabia
UEFA (Europe): 11 Teams
- Total Teams – 55 in qualification
- Teams Qualified – 11
- Qualified Teams: Germany (defending champions), England, France, Italy, Portugal, Belgium, Croatia, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Republic of Ireland, Austria
CAF (Africa): 10 Teams
- Total Teams – 54 in qualification
- Teams Qualified – 10
- Qualified Teams: Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Mali, Zambia, Egypt, Uganda
- Notable: Egypt and Uganda secured the final two African slots through play-offs
CONCACAF (North, Central America, and the Caribbean): 8 Teams
- Total Teams – 41 in qualification
- Teams Qualified – 8
- Qualified Teams: United States, Mexico, Canada, Costa Rica, Honduras, Panama, Haiti, El Salvador
- Notable: El Salvador makes their debut appearance
CONMEBOL (South America): 6 Teams
- Total Teams – 10 in qualification
- Teams Qualified – 6
- Qualified Teams: Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Colombia, Venezuela, Chile
OFC (Oceania): 4 Teams
- Total Teams – 11 in qualification
- Teams Qualified – 4
- Qualified Teams: New Zealand, New Caledonia, Fiji, Bolivia
Tournament Format Details
- Group Stage: 12 groups of 4 teams each
- Advancement: Top 2 teams from each group + 8 best third-placed teams qualify for Round of 32
- Knockout Stage: Round of 32, Round of 16, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Final
- Total Matches: 104 (compared to 52 in the previous 24-team format)
- Duration: 25 days (November 3-27, 2025)
Tournament Venue
All matches except the final will be played at eight venues within the Aspire Zone in Doha, providing a unique centralised tournament experience. The final will take place at Khalifa International Stadium on November 27, 2025, the same venue that hosted matches during the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Notable Teams to Watch
- Germany – Defending champions seeking to retain their title
- Brazil and the United States – Tied for most U-17 World Cup appearances (19 each)
- England – 2017 World Cup winners returning to compete
- France – Three-time winners and 2024 runners-up
- Newcomers: El Salvador, Fiji, Uganda, the Republic of Ireland, and Zambia are making their debuts
How many teams will play in the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup?
For the first time in U-17 World Cup history, 48 teams will compete in the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup, double the previous format of 24 teams.
Which country is hosting the U-17 World Cup 2025?
Qatar will host the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup and has been awarded hosting rights for five consecutive editions from 2025 to 2029.
How many teams qualify from each continent?
The continental allocation for the 48 teams includes: Asia (9 teams, including host (Qatar), Europe (11), Africa (10), CONCACAF (8), South America (6), and Oceania (4).
Who are the defending champions?
Germany is the defending champion, having won their first U-17 World Cup title at the 2023 tournament held in Indonesia.
When does the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2025 start?
The 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup will start on November 3, 2025, with the opening match featuring hosts Qatar against Italy. The tournament runs until November 27, 2025.
