FIFA has designated Qatar as the host for the upcoming five boys’ Under-17 World Cup tournaments from 2025 through 2029, and Morocco will host the equivalent girls’ competitions, as announced this Thursday.
The governing body of global football revealed last December that these youth championships would occur annually beginning the following year. The boys’ competition will see an expansion from 24 to 48 teams, while the girls’ tournament will grow from 16 to 24 teams.
The selection of a single country to host consecutive editions is based on leveraging the existing sports infrastructure to enhance tournament efficiency and sustainability, according to FIFA.
Qatar, which held the 2022 men’s World Cup and this year’s Asian Cup as a replacement for China, will continue its role in global football events.
In a joint bid with Spain and Portugal, Morocco is set to co-host the 2030 World Cup, with additional matches planned in South America to mark the event’s 100th anniversary.
Both Qatar and Morocco are no strangers to hosting significant football events, having organized the Club World Cup several times. Moreover, Morocco is preparing to host the Africa Cup of Nations in 2025.
This expansion of the Under-17 World Cup is part of FIFA’s broader strategy to increase participation in its tournaments, as evidenced by the men’s World Cup in 2026, which will include 48 teams for the first time, and the recent expansion of the Women’s World Cup field from 24 to 32 teams in the tournaments held in Australia and New Zealand.
