By Saud Al-Sultan DOHA, Nov 2 (KUNA) -- The FIFA U-17 World Cup will kick off tomorrow, Monday, in the Qatari capital, Doha, and will continue until November 27, with the participation of 48 national teams, a first in the tournament's history.
Over the course of 25 days, 104 matches will be played across eight stadiums within the Aspire Academy complex, while the final will be hosted at Khalifa International Stadium. Each stage of the tournament will feature eight matches daily.
Germany will aim to defend its title after winning the previous edition held in Indonesia in 2023, when it defeated France 4-3 on penalties in a dramatic final that ended 2-2 in regular time.
In May, the tournament's Local Organizing Committee unveiled the official logo of the FIFA U-17 World Cup. The modern and dynamic design integrates the competition's trophy within the letter "U" from "U-17," creating a bold silhouette that also represents a beam of light, the core symbol of the tournament's new identity.
The visual mark celebrates the heritage of the U-17 World Cup while looking toward the future of football. It highlights the partnership between FIFA and the host nation to showcase emerging talents who form the heart of the story.
The warm, overlapping color layers radiate outward to symbolize the global reach, inclusiveness, and energy of football, reflecting the discovery and development of young talent. Depicted as a beacon, the logo embodies the players' drive and ambition.
The organizing committee also announced the official tournament mascot, an owl inspired by Serbian coach Bora Milutinovic, the only manager to have led five different national teams in five consecutive FIFA World Cups.
The mascot carries the Arabic name for "owl," a symbol of wisdom, vision, and precise guidance, and playfully references "Bora," whose career as a coach and talent discoverer has greatly influenced football development in Qatar and worldwide.
The 2025 edition introduces a major expansion, with 48 teams competing, the largest number in the tournament's history. The teams are divided into 12 groups, each comprising four teams. Six Arab nations are taking part in this edition: Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia.
Opening-day fixtures feature matches between Senegal and Croatia, Argentina and Belgium, South Africa and Bolivia, New Caledonia and Portugal, Japan and Morocco, Qatar and Italy, Costa Rica and the UAE, and Tunisia and Fiji.
Fans can purchase tickets through www.roadtoqatar.qa, with daily categories starting at QAR 20 (around USD 6).
Nigeria remains the most successful nation in tournament history with five titles, followed by Brazil with four. Saudi Arabia became the first Arab team to win the championship in 1989 in Scotland, defeating the host nation 5-4 on penalties after a 2-2 draw in regulation and extra time.
In March 2024, FIFA's Council granted Qatar the rights to host the next five editions of the U-17 World Cup from 2025 to 2029.
Qatar thus becomes the 20th nation to host the finals of this competition, first held in 1985 in China with 16 participating teams. Initially named the "FIFA U-16 World Championship," it was rebranded in 1991 as the "FIFA U-17 World Championship," and in 2007 adopted its current title, the "FIFA U-17 World Cup." (end) sss.aa