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

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.