[SPOTV News — Reporter Park Dae-seong] Top U-17 prospects are set to descend on Qatar again this year for a high-stakes tournament.
FIFA and the U-17 World Cup Qatar Local Organizing Committee (LOC) officially announced that the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2026 will take place from November 19 to December 13.
Qatar is hosting the FIFA U-17 World Cup for five consecutive years through 2029, and the 2026 edition is the second in that stretch. Following the 2025 tournament — the first FIFA competition to feature 48 teams — this year’s event will again bring together 48 nations competing for the trophy.
The draw for the 48 teams will be held on May 21 in Zurich, Switzerland. All matches will be played at the state-of-the-art competition complex in the Aspire Zone.
Qatar’s compact hosting model proved successful in 2025, delivering a dynamic experience for fans. According to the local organizing committee, more than 197,460 spectators attended 104 matches over 15 days.
Some 130 scouts from top clubs around the world also benefited from the close geography, watching emerging talent from across the globe in one concentrated location at the Aspire Zone.
The 2025 tournament introduced several breakout stars, including Egypt’s Hamza Abdelkarim, Mali’s Seydou Dembélé, Belgium’s Jesse Visiu and Nathan De Cat, and Italy’s Samuele Inacio. All eyes now turn to which players will emerge on the world stage in 2026.
After the action in the Aspire Zone, the FIFA U-17 World Cup final will be staged at Khalifa International Stadium — the same venue where Portugal’s youngsters lifted the trophy in front of 38,901 fans last year.
Khalifa International Stadium has hosted numerous major events, including matches during the 2022 FIFA World Cup. It will host the Amir Cup 2026 final on May 9. Opened in 1976, the stadium marks its 50th anniversary this year, and fans will be watching to see which team celebrates there.
