Abu Dhabi, May 26, 2025 – The Europe Today: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will face a formidable challenge at the upcoming FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025, after being drawn into Group C alongside Senegal, Croatia, and Costa Rica. The tournament is set to run from November 3 to 27, 2025.
The official draw ceremony was held in Doha on Sunday, May 25, with the assistance of 2014 FIFA World Cup™ winner Julian Draxler of Germany and former Qatar U-17 player Abdulaziz Al Sulaiti.
This edition of the FIFA U-17 World Cup marks a historic expansion, with the tournament now featuring 48 nations for the first time. The teams have been split into 12 groups of four, promising a diverse and competitive global showcase of youth football.
Group C, featuring the UAE, presents a diverse mix of footballing styles and pedigree, including African powerhouse Senegal, European contenders Croatia, and CONCACAF representatives Costa Rica.
The draw has set the stage for several exciting group-stage clashes, including a marquee encounter between Belgium and Argentina in Group D, a high-stakes opener between hosts Qatar and Italy in Group A, and a thrilling match-up between defending champions Germany and Colombia in Group G.
Full Group Line-Up:
- Group A: Qatar, Italy, South Africa, Bolivia
- Group B: Japan, Morocco, New Caledonia, Portugal
- Group C: UAE, Senegal, Croatia, Costa Rica
- Group D: Argentina, Belgium, Tunisia, Fiji
- Group E: England, Venezuela, Haiti, Egypt
- Group F: Mexico, South Korea, Ivory Coast, Switzerland
- Group G: Germany, Colombia, North Korea, El Salvador
- Group H: Brazil, Honduras, Indonesia, Zambia
- Group I: USA, Burkina Faso, Tajikistan, Czech Republic
- Group J: Paraguay, Uzbekistan, Panama, Ireland
- Group K: France, Chile, Canada, Uganda
- Group L: Mali, New Zealand, Austria, Saudi Arabia
As the UAE prepares to compete on this elevated stage, hopes are high for a strong showing from the young squad under the national banner.
