Introduction: A new challenge for the young Green team
The draw for the FIFA U-17 World Cup, held today in Zurich, Switzerland, placed the Saudi Arabian youth national team in Group D, alongside strong teams including France, Haiti, and Uruguay. Sports fans eagerly anticipate this exceptional edition, which will be hosted by Doha, Qatar, from November 19 to December 13, in a football tournament that brings together the best young talents from around the world.
Historical context and the new tournament system
This edition holds immense historical significance, as it falls under the new expanded format adopted by FIFA. The number of participating teams has been increased to 48 from 24, and the tournament will now be held annually instead of every two years. Qatar has been awarded the honor of hosting five consecutive editions of this prestigious global tournament, from 2025 to 2029, reflecting the strong confidence in Qatar's sporting infrastructure and its ability to organize large-scale and sustainable sporting events.
The importance of the event and its regional and international impact
Regionally, hosting the FIFA U-17 World Cup in the Middle East presents a golden opportunity for Arab national teams, such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, and Qatar, to gain continuous experience against the world's most prestigious footballing nations and develop future generations. Internationally, this annual gathering of 48 teams transforms Doha into a global talent scouting hub, attracting hundreds of scouts from major European and international clubs to closely observe future stars and build a database of the most promising young players.
Results of the draw for the Under-17 World Cup
The 48 qualified teams were divided into 12 groups, with four teams in each group, to pave the way for exciting competitions. The results were as follows:
- Group 1: Qatar, Panama, Egypt, Greece.
- Group Two: South Korea, Africa's No. 1, New Caledonia, Ecuador.
- Group 3: Argentina, Australia, Africa's No. 1, Denmark.
- Group Four: Saudi Arabia, France, Haiti, Uruguay.
- Group Five: Italy, Jamaica, Ivory Coast, Uzbekistan.
- Group Six: Senegal, Croatia, Cuba, Tajikistan.
- Group 7: Mali, New Zealand, Belgium, Vietnam.
- Group 8: Spain, China, Fiji, Morocco.
- Group Nine: Brazil, Republic of Ireland, Tanzania, Costa Rica.
- Group 10: United States of America, Montenegro, Chile, Algeria.
- Group Eleven: Mexico, Romania, Cameroon, Venezuela.
- Group Twelve: Japan, Colombia, Serbia, Honduras.
Qatar's preparations and world-class infrastructure
For his part, Jassim Al Jassim, CEO of the Local Organizing Committee, affirmed Qatar's commitment to delivering an exceptional tournament. He noted that Qatar made history by hosting the first FIFA tournament with 48 teams, welcoming over 1,008 young players and attracting more than 197,000 fans to 104 matches played in a festive atmosphere. Al Jassim added that the focus is on providing a comprehensive experience that builds upon the successes of previous editions to showcase emerging talent.
The tournament matches are being held in a centralized format at the Aspire Zone competition complex, allowing fans and scouts to easily attend several matches in a single day. The tournament is scheduled to conclude with the final match on December 13 at Khalifa International Stadium, the iconic venue celebrating its 50th anniversary (since its opening in 1976), which has previously hosted major international events, most notably the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
