FIFA U-17 World Cup 2025
The title “FIFA U-17 World Cup 2025: Schedule, Teams, and Format” serves as a perfect, concise blueprint for what fans can expect from the upcoming tournament in Qatar. It immediately signals a practical and informative guide, cutting straight to the essential details that followers of the sport need to know.
Firstly, the mention of the schedule is crucial. It promises a timeline of the event, from the opening match on November 3rd to the final at Doha’s Khalifa International Stadium on November 27th. This allows fans to mark their calendars for a month of intense football, tracking the journey from the group stages all the way to the championship decider.
Secondly, the reference to teams highlights the most groundbreaking aspect of the 2025 edition: its historic expansion to 48 nations. This is a significant shift from the previous 24-team format, massively increasing the global representation and creating a more complex and unpredictable competition. The title promises a breakdown of the 12 groups, from traditional powerhouses to exciting new contenders.
Finally, the format is a key point of interest. The new 48-team structure introduces a unique knockout phase, where the top two teams from each group are joined by the eight best third-place finishers to create a 32-team bracket. The title assures readers they will understand the new rules, including the notable absence of extra time in knockout matches, proceeding directly to penalties if level after 90 minutes.
Tournament Snapshot
- Host Nation: Qatar
- Dates: November 3 – November 27, 2025
- Teams: 48 (expanded from 24)
- Total Matches: 104
- Final Venue: Khalifa International Stadium, Doha
Teams and Groups
The 48 teams have been drawn into 12 groups of four.
- Group A: Qatar, Italy, South Africa, Bolivia
- Group B: Japan, Morocco, New Caledonia, Portugal
- Group C: Senegal, Croatia, Costa Rica, United Arab Emirates
- Group D: Argentina, Belgium, Tunisia, Fiji
- Group E: England, Venezuela, Haiti, Egypt
- Group F: Mexico, South Korea, Ivory Coast, Switzerland
- Group G: Germany, Colombia, North Korea, El Salvador
- Group H: Brazil, Honduras, Indonesia, Zambia
- Group I: USA, Burkina Faso, Tajikistan, Czechia
- Group J: Paraguay, Uzbekistan, Panama, Ireland
- Group K: France, Chile, Canada, Uganda
- Group L: Mali, New Zealand, Austria, Saudi Arabia
Tournament Format
- Group Stage: The top two teams from each of the 12 groups, plus the eight best third-place teams, will advance to the knockout stage.
- Knockout Stage: A 32-team bracket consisting of the Round of 32, Round of 16, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and the Final.
- Deciding Knockout Matches: If a knockout match is tied after 90 minutes, it goes directly to a penalty shootout (no extra time).
Key Match Schedule
Group Stage (Nov 3 – Nov 11)
- Opening Matches (Nov 3): South Africa vs Bolivia & Costa Rica vs United Arab Emirates.
- Host’s First Match (Nov 3): Qatar vs Italy.
- The group stage concludes on November 11.
Knockout Stage
- Round of 32: November 14 – 15
- Rest Days: November 16 – 17
- Round of 16: November 18
- Rest Days: November 19 – 20
- Quarterfinals: November 21
- Rest Days: November 22 – 23
- Semifinals: November 24
- Rest Days: November 25 – 26
- Third-Place Playoff & Final: November 27
Venues
- All matches until the final will be played across eight pitches at the Aspire Zone complex in Al Rayyan.
- The Final will be held at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha (capacity: 45,000).
Kickoff Times
Matches are scheduled throughout the afternoon and evening in Qatar. The local times listed are:
The Final kicks off at 9:00 PM Local Time (18:00 GMT).
Afternoon Slots: 3:30 PM, 4:00 PM, 4:30 PM (Local Time / GMT+3)
Evening Slots: 5:45 PM, 6:15 PM, 6:45 PM (Local Time / GMT+3)
