March 14, (THEWILL)- FIFA has announced a new era for its Under-17 World Cups, with Qatar and Morocco taking centre stage.
The upcoming editions of the boys’ tournament will be held annually in Qatar for the next five years, starting in 2025. The girls’ U-17 World Cup will also switch to an annual format, with Morocco hosting the expanded competition from 2025 to 2029.
These decisions align with FIFA’s recent trend of expanding major tournaments. Both the U-17 World Cups will see a significant increase in participating teams, mirroring the 48-team format adopted for the upcoming Men’s World Cup in 2026 and the 32-team Women’s World Cup held in 2023.
Justifying the single-host approach for the U-17 tournaments, FIFA highlighted its focus on efficiency and sustainability. Utilising existing infrastructure in Qatar and Morocco aligns with this strategy.
Both nations boast a strong track record in hosting major football tournaments. Qatar successfully staged the 2022 Men’s World Cup and recently filled in as the host for the 2023 Asian Cup. Morocco has co-hosted the Club World Cup on multiple occasions and is set to take on the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. They will also co-host the 2030 Men’s World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal.
This announcement marks a significant shift for the U-17 World Cups, offering young players more opportunities to compete on the global stage and solidifying Qatar and Morocco’s positions as prominent hosts within the international football landscape.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
