England
How they qualified: Reached UEFA U-17 European Championship final tournament
Previous participations: 5
Best U-17 World Cup result: Winners (2017)
Coach: Neil Ryan
Born in Venezuela, Rodriguez moved to England aged ten and his precocious footballing talent soon began to show. A fast, skilful and clinical striker, he eventually joined Southampton’s academy before moving to Lyon in 2024. He made his senior debut for the club in a Ligue 1 match against Lens in May 2024. Rodriguez boasts a superb record for England at U-17 level, scoring nine times in just ten appearances.
Venezuela
How they qualified: South American U-17 Championship third place
Previous participations: 2
Best U-17 World Cup result: Round of 16 (2023)
Coach: Oswaldo Vizcarrondo
Venezuela conceded just four goals in six matches on their way to third place at the South American U-17 Championship. Marcos Maitan, who stands at 1.95 metres, is the leader of the team’s backline. As well as his commanding defensive performances, he also displayed his ability in the opposite penalty box in the continental competition, netting with an acrobatic effort in Venezuela’s 3-0 third-place play-off win over Chile.
Haiti
How they qualified: Concacaf U-17 World Cup qualifying group winners
Previous participations: 2
Best U-17 World Cup result: Group stage (2007, 2019)
Coach: Eddy Cesar
An excellent dribbler with searing pace, Laisse looks sure to turn heads in Qatar. “We need the whole team to perform, but our two young wingers from the Mount Pleasant Football Academy – Emerson Laisse and Franco Celestin – will be ones to watch”, said coach Eddy Cesar. The 17-year-old, who scored three goals in the Qatar 2025 qualifiers, will has even been invited to train with Sebastien Migne’s senior Haiti national team squad.
Egypt
How they qualified: Won CAF U-17 World Cup play-off
Previous participations: 2
Best U-17 World Cup result: Quarter-finalists (1997)
Coach: Ahmed El Kass
Abdelkarim has already shown his ability to deliver in tournament football, scoring three times at the U-17 AFCON. His strikes included the winner in their U-17 World Cup play-off win over Angola. The striker plays his club football for Cairo giants Al Ahly and made his senior debut for the team in February 2025.
