“We’ve got bigger objectives.” That is how Abdulaziz Al Fawaz, captain of the Saudi Arabia U-17s, summed up his team’s ambitions heading into the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025™, the first edition of the expanded tournament with 48 teams taking part.
The Little Greens will be among nine sides representing Asia in the global showcase, which will take place from 3–27 November, having qualified by reaching the quarter-finals of the AFC U-17 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia in April. With that ticket booked, the Saudis pressed onward to the final, ultimately falling to Uzbekistan in the continental decider.
“The road to qualification wasn’t easy,” Al Fawaz told FIFA. “I think the toughest moment was in our match against Thailand (to reach the quarter-finals). They went ahead 1-0 early on, but then we equalised and managed to turn the tables in the last 20 minutes.”
As the team prepare for the rigors of Group L, featuring Mali, New Zealand and Austria, the captain understands it is no easy task, but he sees nothing to fear. He is approaching group play with a mix of respect for his opponents and confidence in his side’s abilities. “There’s no such thing at a World Cup as an easy team or a hard team,” he said. “All the teams taking part have strong squads, like in our group with Mali, New Zealand and Austria. God willing, we’ll be able to get through.”
A U-17 World Cup appearance is a milestone in a young player’s career, offering a chance to go up against different levels of global football at an early age. Its importance extends beyond competition alone – it provides a complete experience that helps players cultivate discipline, handle crowd pressure, adapt to diverse styles of play, and pick up experiences that hone their talent.
Though still young, Al Fawaz grasps this perfectly well. His maturity shows in his outlook on the opportunity ahead of him. “To play in a World Cup while still being a rising player is a big deal for me,” he said. “It’s really an amazing feeling.”
Saudi Arabia have never advanced beyond the group stage in previous tournaments, but Al Fawaz insists the bar has been set higher this time. “We’re looking to do more than just get through the group stage,” he said. “We’ve got bigger objectives of making it deep into the advanced rounds.”
One factor that may work in favour of the Little Greens is the setting: Qatar, just next door, where the climate and customs are similar, and fan support is expected. “Having the World Cup in Qatar, next door to Saudi Arabia, helps us a lot because we’ll feel at home,” Al Fawaz said. “That makes us even more excited for the tournament.”
FIFA will stage the U-17 World Cup in Qatar for five consecutive years in service of strategic goals, most importantly helping to develop young players by exposing them to strong competition every year. “I believe that holding the tournament in five straight years is a wise decision,” Al Fawaz said.
Find out all you need to know about the U-17 World Cup here
Picture credits: AFC
