The FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025™ group stage continued on Monday with Colombia, England and Germany securing spots in the Round of 32. Korea Republic, Switzerland and Venezuela also all impressed with wins. Elsewhere, Indonesia made history by recording their first World Cup triumph of any kind, while Brazil struck late to rescue a draw against Zambia.
Group E
England goals: Heskey (14, 56), Miles (90)
Reigan Heskey’s double powered England into the Round of 32 as they overcame already-qualified Egypt.
The Manchester City man fired a thunderous drive home to give his team a first-half lead, before racing forward to slot in and make it 2-0. Heskey had a golden chance to complete his hat-trick, but saw a penalty saved by Omar Abdelaziz, who then miraculously kept out Seth Ridgeon’s follow-up effort. England would grab a third through, with substitute Harrison Miles’ on target to put the result beyond doubt.
Venezuela goals: Claut (6), Mancilla pen (14), Garcia (80, 90+4)
Haiti goals: Jacquet (41), Felix (72)
Player of the Match: David Garcia (Venezuela)
Venezuela completed an unbeaten group stage by fending off a strong challenge from Haiti.
Venezuela could not have asked for a better start, as Diego Claut used his chest to redirect in a cross from the left. It quickly became two when John Mancilla converted a penalty after being fouled in the area. The Caribbean side pulled a goal back shortly before intermission on a curling, right-footed shot from Da-Benz Jacquet. Haiti were brimming with belief and evened things up on Woodson Felix’s composed finish from Emerson Laisse’s slick pass. But the final word belonged to Venezuela, with David Garcia slotting home and then scoring a late penalty to secure the points.
Group F
Switzerland goals: Mijajlovic (17, 58), Lopez own goal (20)
Mexico goal: De Nigris (57)
Player of the Match: Mladen Mijajlovic (Switzerland)
Mladen Mijajlovic bagged a brilliant brace as Switzerland sealed top spot in Group F and left Mexico in third. The Swiss opened the scoring with one of the goals of the tournament, Mijajlovic lashing home left-footed from 18 yards at the end of a flowing move. Already rocking, Mexico received another blow when luckless keeper Santiago Lopez diverted an attempted clearance from Felix Contreras into his own net. Aldo De Nigris’ excellent flashing header early in the second half offered fleeting hope of a comeback but Mijajlovic extinguished it from the restart, sliding home clinically to send the Swiss through in style.
Korea Republic goals: Kim (26), Jeong (48), Yi (87)
Côte d’Ivoire goal: Allassane Toure (38)
Player of the Match: Kim Jisung (Korea Republic)
Already-qualified Korea Republic netted three to down Côte d’Ivoire. The AFC heavyweights opened the scoring when Kim Jisung’s mishit cross lofted over Christ Kouassi in the Ivorian goal. The Little Elephants, who were eliminated before this match, hit back through a well-worked Allassane Toure strike. Korea Republic wouldn’t be denied, though, with Jeong Hyeonung sweeping home just after the break, before Yi Yonghyeon sealed the win from the penalty spot.
Group G
Colombia: Solarte (25), Londono pen (33)
Player of the Match: Santiago Londono (Colombia)
Two first-half goals proved the difference as Colombia secured their passage to the last 32 versus already-qualified Korea DPR. Miguel Solarte gave the South Americans the lead as his left-footed effort deflected beyond the despairing dive of Kim Jong-hun. They tightened their grip on proceedings soon after, as Santiago Londono raced through and was felled by the goalkeeper. The striker dusted himself down and powered home the spot-kick to secure all three points.
Germany goals: Mensah (32, 57), Staff (41), Mike (45), Reyes own goal (52), Eikel (69), Prenaj (84)
Player of the Match: Jeremiah Mensah (Germany)
Defending champions Germany swept aside El Salvador to qualify for the Round of 32 as group winners. Clinical finishes from Jeremiah Mensah and Alexander Staff put them in control, before Wisdom Mike’s superb turn-and-finish made it 3-0 by half-time. They got their fourth soon after the break when Andrew Reyes deflected the ball into his own goal, before strikes from Mensah, Lasse Eickel and Christian Prenaj wrapped up the scoring.
Group H
Honduras goal: Suazo pen (54)
Indonesia goals: Florasta pen (52), Alberto (72)
Player of the Match: Nazriel Alvaro (Indonesia)
A wonderful Fadly Alberto strike saw Indonesia claim victory over Honduras. It is the first World Cup victory of any kind for Indonesia. Two penalties brought the game to life, with Evandra Florasta putting Indonesia ahead, only for Luis Suazo to reply with a spot-kick of his own almost instantly. Both sides hunted for a winner and it was the Garuda who found it, with Alberto bringing the ball down outside the area, setting himself and rifling in a stunning half-volley. The result keeps Indonesia’s faint hopes of qualifying alive, while Honduras are eliminated.
Zambia goal: Kalimina (26)
Brazil goal: Dell (81)
Brazil needed a late leveller to peg back Zambia and secure top spot in Group H, with the African side forced to settle for second. Jonathan Kalimina scored an audacious Olimpico as his low first-half corner evaded defender Arthur Ryan at the near post and left goalkeeper Joao Pedro stranded. But the South Americans pressed hard for an equaliser and eventually found one as Angelo’s cross evaded the previously excellent Christo Chitambala and allowed Dell to nod home.
What they said…
“I’m very happy, but without the team, I wouldn’t have been able to achieve that. We played today as a family and that’s the most important. And I think when we play like this every match, anything can happen in this tournament because we are now in the knockout stages.”
Mladen Mijajlovic, Switzerland midfielder
“It was a good performance. We had some pressure. We had to stay cool, be focused and concentrated. We scored a lot and we had a lot of different scorers involved, which I liked to see. It was a good evening, but we have a lot of work to do.”
Marc Meister, Germany coach
“Today we scored the goals, I think the team played well, we scored and the guys showed character because we were playing for qualification against a team that had just thrashed El Salvador and drawn with Germany”.
Fredy Hurtado, Colombia manager
“Great character from the boys. I give them credit for the hard work, they fought like I’ve never seen before. A lapse of concentration for few minutes and we conceded that equaliser. We could’ve done better. We saw how they played, we planned on defending from crosses, but we slipped a bit and we allowed them to come back.”
Dennis Makina, Zambia coach
“Brazil needed to compete better in the first half. This was key to our result today. We gave them a goal in a defensive mistake from a corner, but we corrected this after the break and created a lot of chances, got the draw. We could have won, but we were not happy with our attempts at goal.”
Carlos Patetuci, Brazil coach
“It’s truly an incredible feeling for us. We’re very, very excited. Our first win at a World Cup is something extraordinary for me, and I hope this becomes the starting point for the players’ journey so they can continue to grow and become even better in the future.”
Nova Arianto, Indonesia coach
“We saw that we were able to keep up with the pace of the match. It was 2-2 for some of the match, but then it was a bit frustrating when we conceded those two goals. Still, it’s good that we were able to improve on our last two matches.”
Wasson Thermoncy, Haiti defender
“We tried to make some changes and bring in some freshness with players who hadn’t started, but it was difficult. A World Cup is tough. We find it difficult to break down defences that sit deep. We’re not being clinical enough in the final third and we’re struggling.”
Oswaldo Vizcarrondo, Venezuela manager
“The players have shown great character, personality and resolve to get over a tough first game. Football is a tough game, it can be a cruel game at times, but to bounce back and win both matches is really pleasing to see. Tonight was a really tough game physically, but we stood up to that test.”
Neil Ryan, England coach
