File photo of Qatar U-17 squad.
Doha, Qatar: Head coach Alvaro Mejia has announced a 21-player Qatar squad for the upcoming FIFA U-17 World Cup 2025 as the hosts prepare to make a strong impression in the expanded global showpiece taking place on their home turf.
The squad, revealed by the Qatar Football Association (QFA) on its social media platforms yesterday, features a majority of players drawn from domestic powerhouses Al Sadd and Al Duhail.
This year’s edition of the U-17 World Cup scheduled from November 3 to 27 marks a historic expansion, with 48 teams competing for the first time, divided into 12 groups.
Defending champions Germany will aim to retain their crown after lifting the trophy two years ago in Indonesia.
Qatar have been placed in Group A alongside Italy, South Africa and Bolivia.
The young Al Annabi will kick off their campaign against Italy on November 3, face South Africa on November 6 and conclude their group stage against Bolivia three days later.
The Qatari youngsters have been training intensively under Mejia, a former Real Madrid centre-back who also represented and coached Al Shahania, having been associated with the club for a decade. Appointed as Qatar’s U-17 coach in January, Mejia recently guided the side to the semi-finals of the U-17 Gulf Cup.
Qatar U-17 team coach Alvaro Mejia
This will be Qatar’s eighth appearance in the tournament, with their best-ever result being a fourth-place finish in 1991.
Speaking to FIFA recently, Mejia expressed optimism about his team’s readiness and mindset ahead of what he described as a “massive challenge.”
“We’re going into it full of excitement, and our target is to get as far as we possibly can, bearing in mind that we’ll be up against Italy, one of the best teams in the last European Championship,” said the Spaniard.
“These types of matches at such a young age will help them grow. We’re putting in the hard work to ensure we’re as motivated and prepared as possible.”
The FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 will be staged at the Competition Complex within Aspire Zone, hosting up to eight matches per day for a total of 104 games.
The month-long competition will culminate with the final at Khalifa International Stadium on November 27. Qatar will host five consecutive editions of the tournament through 2029, as the event transitions to an annual format from its previous biennial schedule.
