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TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar, running from November 3 to 27, will feature 48 teams from six confederations, including five debutants: Fiji, Ireland, Zambia, El Salvador, and Uganda.These newcomers will join more experienced youth teams in the tournament, competing for a spot in the knockout stages.The top two teams from each group, along with the eight best third-placed teams, will advance to the round of 32.Sheikh Hamad, Chair of the Local Organizing Committee, expressed pride in hosting the expanded tournament.“We are proud to host the first-ever 48-team FIFA tournament, which will showcase football’s exceptional emerging talent and celebrate the sport’s power in uniting people from all around the world,” he said, as reported by Qatar Tribune on November 3, 2025.He added that the championship will continue the Aspire Academy’s tradition of producing elite athletes while reinforcing Qatar’s position as a global sports hub.Debutant Teams and Their GroupsFiji represents the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) and is one of three OFC teams alongside New Caledonia and New Zealand. Fiji is in Group D with Argentina, Belgium, and Tunisia.Uganda and Zambia represent the Confederation of African Football (CAF), which has 10 teams in total. Uganda is in Group K with France, Canada, and Chile, while Zambia is in Group H alongside Indonesia, Brazil, and Honduras.El Salvador qualifies from CONCACAF, which includes eight teams: Canada, Costa Rica, Haiti, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, and the United States. El Salvador is in Group G with defending champion Germany, Colombia, and North Korea.Republic of Ireland makes its UEFA debut, joining 11 other European teams, including Austria, Belgium, England, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, and Switzerland. Ireland is in Group L with Austria, Mali, and Saudi Arabia.Opening Matches and ScheduleZambia, one of the five debutants, will face Indonesia in the opening Group H match on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, while Brazil takes on Honduras later the same day.The tournament will feature 104 matches held at the Aspire Zone Competition Complex, spread across eight fields. The final will take place on November 27 at Khalifa International Stadium, also within the complex.The 2025 U-17 World Cup offers a platform for emerging football stars while celebrating international youth talent and sportsmanship on a global stage.Editor’s Choice: 6 Zambian Players Indonesia Should Keep an Eye On in Tonight's U-17 World Cup MatchClick here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
