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FIFA U-17 World Cup
Drawn alongside Panama, Egypt and Greece in Group A, the hosts will be targeting a strong start as they prepare for their ninth appearance at the tournament.
Factfile
Previous participations: 8
Best finish: Fourth place (1991)
2025 Result: Group Stage
How they qualified: Hosts
Head coach: Alvaro Mejia
Group A fixtures - Nov 19 v Panama; Nov 22 v Egypt; Nov 25 v Greece
Fun fact: Qatar are hosting the tournament for the second of five successive editions
Previous participations: 8
Best finish: Fourth place (1991)
2025 Result: Group Stage
How they qualified: Hosts
Head coach: Alvaro Mejia
Group A fixtures - Nov 19 v Panama; Nov 22 v Egypt; Nov 25 v Greece
Fun fact: Qatar are hosting the tournament for the second of five successive editions
Qatar’s buildup to the global showpiece included a challenging U-17 Gulf Cup campaign, which ended at the group stage.
Defeats to China PR (2-0), Bahrain (1-0) and Oman (2-0) were followed by a 2-1 loss to the United Arab Emirates, leaving the hosts seeking an improvement ahead of their World Cup campaign.
Defeats to China PR (2-0), Bahrain (1-0) and Oman (2-0) were followed by a 2-1 loss to the United Arab Emirates, leaving the hosts seeking an improvement ahead of their World Cup campaign.
Dhiaeddine Larbi impressed at the AFC U17 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026™ with his dribbling and creativity, scoring Qatar’s second goal with a breathtaking chip against Indonesia to help secure their first win.
The Al Gharafa youngster relishes taking on defenders and possesses the technical quality to unlock opposing defences with a decisive pass and Qatar will need an abundance of that if they are to progress into the Round of 32, having suffered Group Stage elimination last year.
The Al Gharafa youngster relishes taking on defenders and possesses the technical quality to unlock opposing defences with a decisive pass and Qatar will need an abundance of that if they are to progress into the Round of 32, having suffered Group Stage elimination last year.
