The 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup, featuring 48 countries, will be held in Qatar this November.
On Thursday, Qatar’s Ministry of Sports and Youth announced that the FIFA Council has confirmed the tournament will be held from November 3 to November 27.
This year marks the 20th edition of the U-17 World Cup, and FIFA has introduced significant changes, including an overhaul of the tournament’s hosting cycle and the number of participating teams.
Previously held every two years, the tournament will now occur annually in Qatar until 2029. Additionally, the number of teams competing has been expanded from 24 to 48.
With the increase in teams, South Korea’s chances of qualifying for the tournament have also improved.
Qatar has automatically secured a spot as the host nation. Teams that reach the quarterfinals of the AFC U-17 Asian Cup—an event that also qualifies for the U-17 World Cup—will also earn a berth.
The AFC U-17 Asian Cup will begin on April 3 in Saudi Arabia. Led by coach Baek Ki-tae, South Korea’s U-17 team is placed in Group C. They will compete against Yemen, Afghanistan, and Indonesia, boosting their chances of securing a spot in the World Cup.
Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chairman of the U-17 World Cup Organizing Committee and Qatar’s Minister of Sports and Youth, commented, “Qatar loves beautiful football. We are excited to once again bring fans from Asia and around the world together and offer both players and spectators world-class sports facilities.”