The UAE U-17 national football team has officially qualified for the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2025 in Qatar.
This major achievement highlights the growth of youth football in the country.
Soon after the qualification, Sheikh Mansoor Bin Mohammed shared a message on X to congratulate the team.
He is the Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council.
“We congratulate the UAE U-17 team on qualifying for the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025,” he wrote.
He also praised the efforts of the technical and administrative staff behind the team’s success.
Furthermore, Sheikh Mansoor thanked Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan for supporting young football talent in the UAE.
Sheikh Hamdan serves as the President of the UAE Football Association. Sheikh Mansoor added, “We wish the U-17 team and all national teams great success in international competitions.”
Meanwhile, FIFA has announced major changes to the tournament’s format.
Starting in 2025, the FIFA U-17 World Cup will take place every year instead of every two years.
Qatar will host five consecutive editions of the tournament.
Additionally, FIFA will expand the competition to include 48 teams, similar to the senior men’s World Cup. In parallel, the women’s U-17 World Cup will also become an annual event.
Morocco will host the women’s tournament until 2029 with an expanded 24-team format.
In comparison, the 2022 edition featured only 16 teams.
These changes mark a new era for youth football globally.
