Teams arrive in Doha for 48-nation U-17 World Cup
Qatar will face Panama in its opening match on 19 November, with the final scheduled for 13 December at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium.
National squads have begun reaching Doha for the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2026, which runs from 19 November to 13 December. The tournament’s 48 teams will contest 104 matches.
Qatar’s first opponent will be Panama, with their match set for 6:30 PM on 19 November at Aspire Zone. The title match is scheduled at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium on 13 December at 7:00 PM.
Africa’s representatives are Cameroon, Morocco, Mozambique, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania and Tunisia. Mozambique and Tanzania are among seven countries making their tournament debuts, alongside Greece, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia and Vietnam.
China is returning to the competition after 21 years. Its squad has arrived, as have teams from Saudi Arabia, New Caledonia, Honduras, New Zealand, Vietnam, the Republic of Korea and Costa Rica. Other squads are expected to follow.
During group play and the Round of 32, the Aspire Zone Competition Complex will stage as many as eight matches daily. The 2025 tournament also concentrated play at one venue, enabling scouts to observe players without traveling between locations. The 48-team field was introduced that year.
