Skip to main content

FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar: Group stage draw revealed

1 min Mena Today

The stage is set for the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025, scheduled from November 3 to 27, and football fans around the globe are bracing for what promises to be a spectacular tournament. 

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will compete in Group C, where they face a challenging trio of opponents: Senegal, Croatia, and Costa Rica © Mena Today 

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will compete in Group C, where they face a challenging trio of opponents: Senegal, Croatia, and Costa Rica © Mena Today 

The stage is set for the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025, scheduled from November 3 to 27, and football fans around the globe are bracing for what promises to be a spectacular tournament. 

The official draw, held on Sunday, May 25 in Doha, revealed the group stage match-ups for the newly expanded 48-nation event.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will compete in Group C, where they face a challenging trio of opponents: Senegal, Croatia, and Costa Rica. It’s a demanding group, pitting the Emirati youngsters against three teams with rich footballing pedigree.

The draw was conducted with the assistance of Julian Draxler, 2014 FIFA World Cup™ winner with Germany, and Abdulaziz Al Sulaiti, a former Qatar U-17 international, adding star power and local flavor to the ceremony.

This year marks a historic expansion for the tournament, moving from 24 to 48 teams, split into 12 groups of four—a format that will introduce new dynamics and open the door to emerging football nations.

Among the standout fixtures to look forward to:

  • Argentina vs Belgium in Group D – a heavyweight clash sure to draw global attention
  • Qatar vs Italy in Group A – the hosts will test their mettle against European giants
  • Germany vs Colombia in Group G – the reigning champions begin title defense in style

Full Group Breakdown

Group A: Qatar, Italy, South Africa, Bolivia
Group B: Japan, Morocco, New Caledonia, Portugal
Group C: UAE, Senegal, Croatia, Costa Rica
Group D: Argentina, Belgium, Tunisia, Fiji
Group E: England, Venezuela, Haiti, Egypt
Group F: Mexico, South Korea, Ivory Coast, Switzerland
Group G: Germany, Colombia, North Korea, El Salvador
Group H: Brazil, Honduras, Indonesia, Zambia
Group I: USA, Burkina Faso, Tajikistan, Czech Republic
Group J: Paraguay, Uzbekistan, Panama, Ireland
Group K: France, Chile, Canada, Uganda
Group L: Mali, New Zealand, Austria, Saudi Arabia

With global talent converging in Qatar this November, the tournament promises to be a true celebration of youth football and a window into the future stars of the game. 

For the UAE, progression from Group C will demand discipline, skill, and composure against some of the world’s brightest young talents.

Related

Qatar

Qatar bought a Champions League, and Paris paid the price

Paris and several French cities descended into chaos on Saturday night as violent clashes erupted following PSG's Champions League final victory over Arsenal in Budapest, scenes that have become a grim ritual whenever the Qatar-backed club wins a major trophy.

United Arab Emirates

UAE economy hits $517 billion as non-oil sectors power ahead

The United Arab Emirates posted robust economic growth of 6.2% in 2025, with real GDP reaching 1.9 trillion AED ($517 billion), according to data released Sunday by the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre.

Qatar

Qatar's big night in Europe

Paris Saint-Germain have retained the Champions League title, defeating Arsenal 4-3 on penalties after a tense 1-1 draw in the Puskas Arena in Budapest on Saturday, a result that marks the pinnacle of one of the most audacious nation-branding exercises in sporting history.

Subscribe to our newsletter

Mena banner 4

To make this website run properly and to improve your experience, we use cookies. For more detailed information, please check our Cookie Policy.

  • Necessary cookies enable core functionality. The website cannot function properly without these cookies, and can only be disabled by changing your browser preferences.