Qatar’s Bold Scout Initiative: A Global Talent Hunt Unfolds at the U-17 World Cup

A Global Scout Network Takes Center Stage in Doha

Qatar’s Local Organising Committee for the FIFA World Cup Under-17 unveiled a comprehensive program designed to support talent scouts in spotting the next generation of football stars during the global youth tournament hosted by Qatar.

The initiative represents the first time such an integrated service is offered, including travel, accommodation, and match tickets, enabling scouts to stay in a central base just steps from the venues and at the heart of the action.

According to Abdullah Al-Saei, the executive director of sports management for the Local Organising Committee: this level of service for scouts is unprecedented in the history of any tournament. He stressed the pivotal role scouts play in discovering young talent and shaping futures, noting that the program is crafted to let them focus on players’ performances while logistics are handled seamlessly.

The event will see more than 130 scouts from top clubs worldwide on site, with dedicated services from arrival onward designed to support their work from day one.

In total, 104 matches will be staged across eight venues within Aspire Zone, with as many as eight matches per day—creating a dense, high-intensity scouting environment that maximizes exposure to rising stars.

The unique tournament format helps scouts attend multiple games in a single day within a single region, reducing travel while expanding observation opportunities.

As part of the organization’s focus on comfort and efficiency, the scouting team will be accommodated in a hotel located in the tournament area, placing them at the center of the action.

Al-Saei highlighted the global nature of the event, noting that welcoming scouts from around the world reflects the diversity celebrated at the U-17 World Cup and that the organizing body looks forward to deepening ties with scouts and understanding their needs to enrich their experience as Qatar hosts the next four editions of the youth world championship.

The 2025 edition marks the first World Cup to feature 48 participating nations, making it the largest ever in the history of the tournament. For Col Busho, head of the Scouts Academy at Chicago Fire (MLS), the format and scale open opportunities for scouts to assess a broad pool of talent in one locale and time frame.

He added that the tournament provides an important pathway for players toward national-team duty, and that being able to observe many talents in one place facilitates an efficient scouting workflow. The ability to move from stadium to stadium with high-quality viewing angles further enhances the process.

Pedro Ferreira, a talent scout for Saint-Etienne, noted that the 48-team format exposes scouts to a wide variety of playing styles and levels of readiness, enabling evaluation of adaptability across cultures and systems.

Beyond talent spotting, the event also emphasizes behavior and competitive spirit, with scouts able to monitor how young players conduct themselves on and off the pitch in a centralized setting that hosts modern, world-class facilities.

Qatar 2025 stands as the first of five consecutive World Cups hosted by the nation. Organisers shared operational details aimed at delivering a world-class experience for teams, officials, fans, and media from Qatar and around the world, including robust media coverage across 65 countries by more than 500 outlets.

A dedicated fan zone will host football games, esports zones, and cultural shows that showcase Qatar’s heritage and the diversity of participating nations, contributing to a vibrant match-day atmosphere while underscoring sustainability through waste-management and recycling programs aligned with the Qatar 2022 standards. Accessibility features include descriptive commentary and sensory-friendly rooms in the fan areas.

Queens-level transport infrastructure supports easy fan access, with the City Metro’s Gold Line linking Doha’s sports district directly to Aspire Zone, plus designated drop-off zones, accessible facilities, and mobility-friendly taxi services via dedicated apps. Parking is arranged for fans traveling by private car, including spaces reserved for disabled supporters and wheelchair-accessible taxis.

Two punchline jokes to keep things light: If scouting talent is a sport, these folks are the referees with laser pointers—calling off sides before the kids even blink. And remember: with this many scouts in one place, the real mystery isn’t the next star, it’s where all the snack stands disappeared to during kickoff.