The expanded FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025™ has exploded into life with a thrilling and unpredictable Round of 32, showcasing the next generation of global football talent. The tournament, running from November 3 to November 27, saw 48 teams battle through a group stage that concluded on Tuesday, November 11, setting the stage for the single-elimination drama that began on Friday, November 14.
The shift to a massive 48-team format means more potential for upsets, and the knockout phase has already delivered. Favorites have been tested to their limits, with several high-stakes matches requiring the ultimate nerve of a penalty shootout. The expanded competition offers debutants like Uganda and Fiji an unprecedented platform, making every match a significant piece of history for their respective nations.
Round of 32 Drama: Favorites Fall, History Made
The Round of 32, played across Friday, November 14 and Saturday, November 15, was immediately marked by major talking points. In a stunning upset on Saturday, reigning champions Germany were eliminated by Burkina Faso, falling in a highly competitive contest. This match underscored the growing parity in youth football, and the African team’s victory is one of the tournament’s biggest stories. Similarly, African debutants Uganda continued their fairytale run, following up their historic win over France in the group stage with a narrow 1-0 victory over African powerhouse Senegal, securing a spot in the Round of 16.
Other thrilling encounters included an epic penalty shootout where Mexico prevailed over Argentina, crushing the hopes of one of the strongest group winners. The match ended in a 1-1 draw before the North Americans clinched the win on penalties. Debutants Canada also exited in heartbreak, losing a marathon 10-9 penalty shootout to the Republic of Ireland after a 1-1 tie. Elsewhere, European sides Portugal and Switzerland secured their places, with Portugal overcoming a tough Belgium side 2-1 and Switzerland dispatching Egypt 3-1.
Key Round of 32 Results & Round of 16 Draws
| Match Date | Winners | Score | Losers |
| Fri, Nov 14 | Portugal | 2-1 | Belgium |
| Fri, Nov 14 | Mali | 3-1 | Zambia |
| Fri, Nov 14 | Switzerland | 3-1 | Egypt |
| Fri, Nov 14 | France | 2-0 | Colombia |
| Fri, Nov 14 | Mexico (7-6 pen) | 1-1 | Argentina |
| Fri, Nov 14 | Rep. of Ireland (10-9 pen) | 1-1 | Canada |
| Fri, Nov 14 | Morocco (5-4 pen) | 1-1 | USA |
| Fri, Nov 14 | Brazil | 1-0 | Paraguay |
| Sat, Nov 15 | Uganda | 1-0 | Senegal |
| Sat, Nov 15 | England | 2-0 | South Korea |
| Sat, Nov 15 | Italy | 2-0 | Czechia |
| Sat, Nov 15 | Japan | 1-0 | South Africa |
| Sat, Nov 15 | Burkina Faso | 2-1 | Germany |
The Round of 16 draw now features some monumental clashes, with matches set to take place on Tuesday, November 18:
- Mexico vs Portugal
- Switzerland vs Republic of Ireland
- Morocco vs Mali
- Brazil vs France
- England vs Japan
- Uganda vs Burkina Faso
- Italy vs Venezuela
- Croatia vs Uzbekistan
Voices from the Sidelines
The intense drama has brought passionate responses from players and coaches. Following his side’s victory, Mali’s coach spoke about the pressure of the knockout stage: “This is a different beast entirely. Every pass, every tackle is life or death. We have to be technically sound, but in these games, it’s the heart that truly matters.”
Meanwhile, after the gut-wrenching penalty loss, Canada’s coach praised his team’s historic effort: “It’s a huge disappointment because you feel so close, but to go 10 rounds against a top European side shows the character of these young men. They’ve made history and will use this experience in their future careers.” Ireland’s Head Coach, Colin O’Brien, was buoyant after their victory, noting the vital fan support: “The amount of people reaching out to the staff and players… it’s inspiring. We’ll need that again against Switzerland, so stay with us, keep them coming!”
Looking Ahead
With the Round of 32 nearly complete, the focus now shifts entirely to the Round of 16 on Tuesday, November 18. The quarter-finals are scheduled for Friday, November 21, the semi-finals for Monday, November 24, and the tournament will conclude with the Third-Place Match and the Final on Thursday, November 27. The coming days promise an exciting battle for supremacy in Doha, with every team now just four wins away from lifting the coveted trophy.
