Fifa Under-17 World Cup 2025-2029 to be held in Qatar
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Doha: FIFA announced the Under-17 World Cup to be held annually, instead of biennially, starting in 2025. The announcement comes as part of FIFA's ongoing efforts to revolutionize youth football and provide greater exposure to emerging talents on the global stage.
FIFA revealed plans to expand the Under-17 World Cup to accommodate 48 teams, mirroring the structure of the senior men's World Cup. This expansion aims to foster inclusivity and diversity within the tournament, allowing more nations to participate and showcase their footballing prowess.
Qatar, celebrated for its successful hosting of the 2022 Senior Men's World Cup, has been awarded the privilege of hosting the next five editions of the Under-17 World Cup.
FIFA also announced that the women's Under-17 World Cup will transition to an annual event from 2025 onwards. Morocco will host an expanded 24-team tournament until 2029, marking a significant step towards promoting women's football on a global scale.
With the expansion of both the men's and women's tournaments, the Under-17 World Cup promises to be more competitive than ever before. The inclusion of additional teams provides an opportunity for emerging talents to test their skills against a diverse range of opponents, thereby enriching the overall quality of the competition.
FIFA has earmarked a record $2.25 billion for the 2023-2026 cycle.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino called for stricter measures to combat racism in football. Following recent incidents of racist behaviour among fans, Infantino has emphasised the need for immediate action, including the imposition of automatic defeat for teams whose supporters engage in discriminatory conduct.
"The 74th Fifa Congress will mark a milestone in Fifa's ongoing efforts to fight racism with new and stricter measures to be applied worldwide in cooperation with all our member associations and the confederations," Infantino added.