Belgium, Japan, Senegal, Croatia and South Africa booked their places in the knockout stage of the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025™, as Groups A, B, C and D came to a close. There remains hope for the hosts, Morocco and Tunisia, but they must wait and see if they progress as one of the eight best third-placed teams.
Results also ensured Egypt, Venezuela, Switzerland, Korea Republic and Korea DPR will feature in the Round of 32. Read a full list of every qualified team here.
Group A
Player of the Match: Yazan Mohamed (Qatar)
Despite a host of chances, Qatar couldn’t break through a stubborn Bolivia backline. The result leaves the hosts’ last-32 hopes hanging by a thread, while the South Americans are out. Yazan Mohamed came close in the first half, as he tested Geronimo Govea with a fierce low drive. Captain Zaid Ktit then hit the bar in the second half, before sending a chip over Govea but just past the post. Mohamed came even closer in added time, as he powered an effort off the upright from five yards out.
Italy goals: Inacio (4, 58) Arena (55)
South Africa: Els (32)
Player of the Match: Samuele Inacio (Italy)
Samuele Inacio hit a double as Italy beat South Africa to confirm top spot. Bafana Bafana, while beaten, have also qualified for the knockout phase, with their four points enough to seal second spot. Inacio’s slick finish opened the scoring, before Shaun Els bundled in a leveller. Antonio Arena’s header restored Italy’s advantage, before Inacio scored his second of the game and fourth of the tournament to wrap up victory.
Group B
Morocco goals: Soukrat (3), Ibn Salah (11, 18), Eddaoudi (41, 42), Hidaoui (44), Baha (45+2, 50), El Khalfioui (48), Haddani (56, 59), Ouazane (73, 90+2), Steevy OG (76), El Aoud (80, 90)
Player of the Match: Abdelali Eddaoudi (Morocco)
Morocco racked up the biggest victory in U-17 World Cup history to keep their hopes alive of progressing to the knockout phase. Spain’s 13-0 win over New Zealand was the previous biggest win, but the Atlas Cubs surpassed that with a relentless performance.
New Caledonia had two players sent off during the first half, with Typhan Dreuko and Jean Canehmez given red cards.
They were made to pay, with Oualid Ibn Salah, Abdelali Eddaoudi, Ziyad Baha, Nahel Haddani, Ismail El Aoud and Abdellah Ouazane all completing braces as Morocco steadfastly hunted the goals which could give them a better chance to progressing to the Round of 32. They finished behind Japan and Portugal in Group B, and will now have to wait to see if they qualify as one of the best third-placed sides.
Portugal goal: Zeega (80)
Japan goals: Takeshi Wada (35), Taiga Seguchi (45)
Player of the Match: Takeshi Wada (Japan)
Japan recovered from a disappointing draw with New Caledonia by downing Portugal to top the standings. Takeshi Wada opened the scoring with a neat touch and finish. Mateus Mide thought he’d levelled just moments later, but his long-range effort went through two Portuguese players who had strayed offside. They were then stung by a Japanese sucker-punch, as Taiga Seguchi lasered in from distance.
The game flipped with just under 20 minutes to go, as Kaiji Chonan was sent off for a kick out on Stevan Manuel. Portugal quickly halved the arrears from there, with Zeega bundling home from close range. Bino Macaes’ side pressed in the final ten minutes, but Japan held on to secure victory.
Group C
Senegal goals: Cisse pen (14), Sonko (19, 41 & 60), Mendy (74)
Player of the Match: Bakary Sonko (Senegal)
A Bakary Sonko treble saw Senegal sink United Arab Emirates and advance as group winners. Malick Cisse got the ball rolling with an ice-cool stuttered penalty after Saad Mubarak had wiped out Alwaly Camara. It was the Sonko show from then on. First, he nodded home from beneath the crossbar, before lashing in his second. Mame Sow then crossed for the No8 to tap in for the match ball. Victor Mendy completed the scoring when he fired into the roof of the the net from close range.
Croatia goals: Rados (35), Raul Kumar (55), Kusanovic (89)
Costa Rica goal: Cordero (58)
Player of the Match: Kresimir Rados (Croatia)
Croatia also secured a last-32 berth with victory over Costa Rica. The Europeans broke the deadlock when Kresimir Rados got on the end of a devilish Karlo Pajsar cross to net for a second straight match. Raul Kumar doubled the lead with a back-post header from a corner. Costa Rica quickly got back into the match with Thiago Cordero firing in a low drive from outside the box, but Tino Kusanovic nodded in late from another Pajsar cross to seal victory.
Group D
Argentina goals: Ojeda (17, 57 & 88), Martinez (30, 43), Silveira (89), Escobar (90+1)
Player of the Match: Mateo Martinez (Argentina)
Argentina continued their 100-per-cent start to Morocco 2025 with a thumping win over Fiji. Uriel Ojeda looked to give the South Americans an early lead, but his penalty was repelled by Melvin Prakash. It was only a temporary reprieve, however, as Ojeda netted, before a fine brace from Mateo Martinez. Ojeda then netted a free-kick in the second half, and side-footed home from inside the box for the match ball. Santiago Silveira and Simon Escobar tacked on two late goals to complete the scoring.
Belgium goals: Fernandez (1), Camara (55)
Player of the Match: Ali Camara (Belgium)
Noah Fernandez set Belgium on their way to victory over ten-player Tunisia and a spot in the last 32. The mercurial midfielder picked up a slack pass from goalkeeper Slim Bouaskar, skipped inside and netted inside 52 seconds. Tunisia’s task was then made doubly difficult on 17 minutes as Saifedin Haj Abdallah was sent off for a high tackle. Ali Camara made the game safe in the second period with a stunning drive from the edge of the box.
What they said…
“I think we deserved a draw, for all the effort we did, but this is football. To Japan’s credit, they defend like a team, they do it all together. This is the trainer’s merit. They are a good team and are also well organised.
Bino Macaes, Portugal coach
“We can’t guarantee a lot of things, we can’t guarantee the clean sheet. But one thing we can guarantee is we will work. That’s what we did with our backline, everyone is working on every play. We watch videos of just people coming in the slide tackles, saving, and we hold that to our hearts.”
Shuji Muramatsu, Japan goalkeeper
“Belgium is a great team. We faced tough opposition, but that’s football. We’ll learn from these experiences for the future. I congratulate the players for their mentality. Despite all the upsets in the game, they remained focused. Without that, we could have conceded a lot more goals.”
Mohamed Amine Naffati, Tunisia coach
“The most important thing is qualifying. My goal? We’ve been working on it for a long time, we often play corners with two players. I received the ball, I had created a lot of space, I shot with my left foot and it went in, it was a beautiful goal.”
Ali Camara, Belgium winger
“We’re delighted with this win and the spirit we showed today. This is our true level. We lost the first two matches, but we tried to put that behind us and we approached today’s game as if it were our first in the tournament.”
Hamza Bouhaddi, Morocco captain
“I want to congratulate my boys. They played a very good game, they controlled the game from the first moment until the end. It’s a pity we didn’t score more goals. The team are very disciplined in defence and sharp in attack. We want to go as far as possible in the tournament.”
Marijan Budimir, Croatia coach
“Before leaving Senegal, we set ourselves two goals: the first was to qualify, and the second was to finish top of our group. Thank God we achieved both. I’m pleased with the tactical discipline the young players showed. I’m pleased with their overall attitude, both the substitutes and those who started the game.”
Papa Ibrahima Faye, Senegal coach
“One of the keys to winning tonight was stopping South Africa’s counter-attacks, because they have lot of pace up front. Of course, we also wanted to play our football, to make crosses, have shots and score. It’s unreal to be able to showcase our skills in front of everyone here. This is one of the biggest events I’ve ever been to.”
Dauda Idrissa, Italy defender
“Of course, I’m disappointed we’ve lost the game, but I’m delighted we’ve qualified. I think we have a team that mixes well together. We always stick together.”
Shaun Els, South Africa stirker
“It’s complicated and we have to wait, but we’ve had the clearest chances. Two shots against the post, a one-on-one against the goalkeeper… We’ve found it a bit difficult to play more calmly, but you learn from situations like this.” Alvaro Mejia, Qatar coach
