Qatar's Historic U-17 World Cup Kickoff: 48 Teams, 8 Venues, One Goal
30 October 2025
Event Overview
The Local Organizing Committee for the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 has confirmed Qatar's readiness to host a historic edition of the tournament, scheduled from November 3 to 27, 2025.
During a press conference today, the organizers shared key operational details and comprehensive plans to deliver an exceptional experience for the participating teams, spectators in Qatar, and fans around the world.
This edition will feature 48 teams—the first time a FIFA World Cup for youngsters reaches that size—with 104 matches and as many as eight games per day.
All matches will be played across eight stadiums within the Aspire Zone complex in Doha, with the final staged at Khalifa International Stadium.
More than 500 media outlets from 65 countries are expected to cover the event.
To celebrate the tournament, a dedicated fan zone will offer football games, esports, and cultural displays that reflect Qatari heritage and the diverse cultures of the participating teams.
Respecting sustainability commitments, organizers say the event will follow the environmental practices introduced at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, including waste management and recycling programs, plus accessibility services such as descriptive commentary for some matches and sensory rooms in the fan zone.
A modern transport network will ensure comfortable access for all fans, with the City Metro's Gold Line providing direct access to Aspire Zone, plus designated pickup and drop-off areas, ample parking, and facilities for fans with disabilities, including wheelchair-accessible taxis via the Kroh app.
Organizers also highlighted that 500 Qatari volunteers will support operational efforts, embodying the cooperative spirit the country brings to major global events.
Teams, Groups and Kick-off
Egypt, Austria and Costa Rica arrived at Hamad International Airport to participate in Qatar 2025.
Austria U-17 have been drawn into Group 12 alongside Mali, New Zealand, and Saudi Arabia.
Costa Rica sit in Group 3 with Senegal, Croatia, and the United Arab Emirates.
Egypt are in Group 5 with England, Venezuela, and Haiti, opening on November 4 against Haiti, then Venezuela and England.
The tournament runs from November 3 to 27 at eight Aspire Zone venues, culminating with the final at Khalifa International Stadium.
This edition marks Qatar's hosting of a sequence of FIFA World Cup events through 2029, reinforcing its status as a global sports hub.
Ticketing and Fan Experience
A new pre-tournament measure, RoadtoQatar, will handle match tickets; fans must download the app to access their tickets and enter the Aspire Zone venues and Khalifa Stadium.
The organizers stated that the app provides a complete digital experience, showing tickets and enabling easy transfers to friends or family; it is available for iOS and Android.
The RoadtoQatar platform is a unified ticketing tool for major sports events Qatar hosts this year, including the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 and the Club World Cup 2025, enabling fans to attend matches in a single app.
Punchlines: With 48 teams, the group stage might feel like a mega family reunion where the relatives actually know how to defend a set piece. And if you can't tell offsides from fair play, the whistle will do the heavy lifting—and your popcorn will do the rest.
