Doha: HE Minister of Sports and Youth Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al-Thani, Chair of the Local Organizing Committee of the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025, stated that hosting the tournament, which kicked off in Doha on Monday, underscores Qatar's leading position as a preferred global sports destination and its continued efforts to set new standards for player and fan experiences.

According to Qatar News Agency, His Excellency remarked that the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 marks a new chapter in the State of Qatar's rich football legacy. Expressing pride in hosting the tournament, which is the first-ever FIFA event to feature 48 teams, HE the Minister highlighted the platform it provides to showcase exceptional rising football talents and its demonstration of the unifying power of sport in bringing together people and cultures from around the world.

HE the Minister of Sports and Youth emphasized that hosting the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar reflects the nation's commitment to developing football on all levels. He noted that the tournament will witness the emergence of future football stars from Aspire Academy, Qatar's leading sports institution known for producing elite athletes.

The FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar will run from November 3 to 27, with 48 qualified nations drawn into 12 groups of four teams. The top two teams in each group, along with the eight best third-placed sides, will advance to the Round of 32, after which the tournament will transition to a knockout format.

In this expanded format, five teams-Fiji, Ireland, Zambia, El Salvador, and Uganda-will make their first-ever appearance at a FIFA U-17 World Cup. Qatar, the host nation, aims to surpass its previous achievement from the 1991 edition, when it finished in 4th place. The 2025 tournament marks the beginning of five consecutive editions of the FIFA U-17 World Cup to be hosted by Qatar through 2029.