FIFA To Host Under-17 World Cups Annually From 2025 With More Teams

In a significant development for global football, FIFA has announced that the Under-17 World Cup will now be held every year, moving away from its traditional biennial schedule. Starting from 2025, Qatar will host the next five editions of this prestigious tournament. This change aligns the Under-17 World Cup with the senior men's World Cup's frequency and expands the participating teams to 48.

Similarly, the women's Under-17 World Cup will adopt an annual format from 2025, with Morocco set to host an expanded event featuring 24 teams, up from the 16 teams in the 2022 edition. This expansion and frequency adjustment come after a global call for hosting expressions of interest, emphasizing the utilization of existing football infrastructure for efficient and sustainable tournament organization.

FIFA has also committed a record $2.25 billion for football development investment over the 2023-2026 cycle. FIFA President Gianni Infantino highlighted the organization's robust financial governance, projecting to surpass the budgetary target of $11 billion for this period. During the FIFA Council meeting, Infantino underscored the importance of implementing stricter measures to combat racism in football. He announced that the upcoming 74th FIFA Congress would introduce new, more stringent global measures against racism in collaboration with member associations and confederations.

The annual report, including these updates and future plans, is slated for final approval at the FIFA Congress on May 17. Additionally, the congress will decide on the host for the 2027 Women's World Cup, with three bids under consideration: one from Brazil, a joint bid from Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands, and another joint bid from Mexico and the United States.

This series of announcements underscores FIFA's commitment to enhancing global football infrastructure, promoting inclusivity through expanded tournament formats, and addressing critical issues such as racism in sport. The move to annual tournaments for youth competitions reflects a strategic effort to provide more opportunities for young talents worldwide to showcase their skills on an international stage.

With inputs from WAM