The inaugural 48-team FIFA U-17 World Cup™ concluded on a fitting stage as the spectacular Khalifa International Stadium played host to Portugal’s final triumph over Austria.
Over three-and-a-half unforgettable weeks in Doha, the tournament produced barnstorming matches, stunning goals and spellbinding individual performances. It all unfolded in an electric and ebullient atmosphere, with tens of thousands attending this true festival of football.
The event also provided an exceptional champion team. Portugal mixed flair, steel and an unbreakable competitive spirit to win their first-ever U-17 World Cup. Those qualities all on show in their 1-0 victory in the final. Anisio Cabral’s brilliantly-worked winning goal was illustrative of the team’s cohesion and ingenuity, before the Portuguese dug deep to withstand mounting Austrian pressure in the second half.
Coach Bino described their title victory as “an historic achievement for this generation”, adding: “That’s why I’m so proud to be their coach.”
Austria boss Hermann Stadler, meanwhile, insisted his players should go home with “their heads held high” after becoming the nation’s first team to reach a World Cup final in any category.
A word, too, for Italy who beat Brazil on penalties in the third-place play-off to secure their best-ever U-17 World Cup result.
The U-17 World Cup will return to Qatar next year and, if this tournament was anything to go by, it will be another event to savour. Before attention turns to 2026, however, let’s look back at what made this edition so special.
A unique buzz
FIFA Chief of Global Football Development Arsene Wenger described the U-17 World Cup as “football paradise”, for good reason. Up to and including the Round of 16, Doha’s Aspire Zone hosted eight games each matchday, with fans from across the world congregating to watch the most exciting young players on the planet.
The complex was awash with colour and alive with energy, with supporters having the opportunity to take in multiple matches each day.
USA sensation Cavan Sullivan neatly summed up the U-17 World Cup experience. “It feels like a unified tournament, with cultures coming together,” he said. “Not a day goes by where I don’t have fun.”
Mide and Moser strike gold
Portugal’s Mateus Mide was the deserved recipient of the adidas Golden Ball award, with the technically supreme forward a figure of consistent brilliance throughout his team’s campaign. The Porto ace is outstanding off both feet and possesses the football intelligence to operate in several attacking positions. Creative and clinical, he bagged four goals and provided two assists at Qatar 2025.
Austria’s Johannes Moser took the adidas Golden Boot award. While excellent team chemistry and a rock-solid defence gave his side the platform for success, Moser undoubtedly provided their X factor. The winger scored eight goals – including sumptuous match-winning efforts in the quarter-finals and semi-finals – to propel his nation to their greatest-ever World Cup result.
Portugal goalkeeper Romario Cunha was awarded the adidas Golden Glove after a series of flawless knockout-phase performances. The champions did not concede a goal in their Round of 16, quarter-final, semi-final and final matches.
Classy Portuguese centre-back Mauro Furtado, Italy attacker Samuele Inacio and Brazil captain Ze Lucas were also among the talents who caught the eye. Check out our selection of U-17 World Cup stars who dazzled here.
Dynamite debutants
Three of the five teams making their maiden U-17 World Cup appearances embarked on superb runs to the knockout phase. Zambia reached the Round of 32, while Uganda and the Republic of Ireland went even further by advancing to the last 16. Fiji and El Salvador could not make it past the group phase, but all told this was a hugely impressive showing collective showing from the tournament debutants – and further evidence of planet football’s growing depth of quality.
Morocco’s sweet 16
Morocco headed into their final group-stage game against New Caledonia knowing they needed to win – and likely by a big margin – to have any chance of making it to the knockouts. They went on to rack up the biggest victory in the history of World Cup football in any age group or gender. The Atlas Cubs ruthlessly punished a New Caledonia side who had two players sent off in the first half, winning 16-0. The victory secured their place in the Round of 32 and they went on to reach the quarter-finals, where they were edged out by Brazil.
Shootout heroes
Knockout football usually brings its share of penalty drama and, for the legions of fans who savour the nerve-shredding tension a shootout brings, Qatar 2025 delivered in spades. On one incredible night in the Round of 32, four games were settled by spot-kicks. Those matches included a remarkable win for Ireland against Canada, with their shootout coming down to the 20th penalty.
Goalkeeper Joao Pedro, meanwhile, was the hero as Brazil won two ties in a row on penalties. Despite his best efforts, however, he could not stop Portugal coming from behind to win their semi-final shootout against the South Americans, or Italy triumphing on spot-kicks in the play-off for third place.
Football unites the world
If one story summed up the sense of togetherness and harmony at the U-17 World Cup, it was the heartwarming friendship forged by the Japan and Mexico squads. Both teams stayed at the same hotel in Doha and sparked a connection which became one of the stories of the tournament.
There were joyous, uplifting scenes as the players cheered each other off to matches and formed guards of honour when the other side returned to base camp after victories.
An unlikely bond made possible through the beautiful game.
U-17 World Cup roll of honour
Champions: Portugal
Runners-up: Austria
Third place: Italy
Fourth place: Brazil
Award winners
adidas Golden Ball: Mateus Mide (POR)
adidas Silver Ball: Johannes Moser (AUT)
adidas Bronze Ball: Mauro Furtado (POR)
adidas Golden Boot: Johannes Moser (AUT)
adidas Silver Boot: Anisio Cabral (POR)
adidas Bronze Boot: Dell (BRA)
adidas Golden Glove: Romario Cunha (POR)
FIFA Fair Play Trophy: Czechia
Key statistics
100
Brazil became the first side to play 100 U-17 World Cup matches. The Seleção started the campaign on 94, and brought up their century with the 2-1 quarter-final win over Morocco.
34
It was the first time in 34 years that the U17 World Cup has crowned a new champion at back-to-back events. Portugal toasted their maiden success off the back of Germany doing the same at Indonesia 2023. The last time that happened was in 1991, when Ghana triumphed in Italy following Saudi Arabia’s success at Scotland 1989.
8
Mexico’s Santiago Lopez became the first goalkeeper in eight years to net in a shootout. The shot-stopper stepped up to smash home the winning penalty as El Tri downed Argentina in their Round-of-32 clash.
1
A Portuguese clinched the adidas Golden Ball and the adidas Golden Glove for the first time through Matheus Mide and Romario Cunha respectively, while Johannes Moser became the first Austrian to win the adidas Golden Boot. With Italy coming third, this tournament also marked the first time each side on the podium hailed from the same continent.
