Portugal 1-0 Austria | Final
Portugal goal: Cabral (32)
Player of the Match: Mauro Furtado (Portugal)
Portugal have become FIFA U-17 World Cup™ champions for the first time after beating Austria in a compelling Doha final.
Anisio Cabral’s first-half strike proved the difference at Khalifa International Stadium, as the reigning U-17 European champions completed a dream 2025 double.
Austria, competing in their first World Cup final at any level, battled tirelessly as they hunted a leveller and came agonisingly close when Daniel Frauscher struck the inside of the post late in the game.
Portugal made a fast start and almost bagged an early opener when Duarte Cunha dragged a shot wide. Austria’s rapid counter-attacking has been a feature of their U-17 World Cup campaign, though, and from one such break Hasan Deshishku burst clear and forced a fine save from Romario Cunha.
The Portuguese would strike the first blow, with Cabral applying the finishing touch from close range after a slick team move. It was his seventh goal of the tournament – only adidas Golden Boot winner Johannes Moser scored more, with the Austria star netting eight times.
The Austrians have displayed impressive powers of resilience all tournament long and refused to buckle after falling behind. Early in the second half, Deshishku was denied again by Cunha, with the goalkeeper making a sprawling save from the striker’s curling free-kick.
Cunha was in fabulous form, and he athletically tipped a Ifeanyi Ndukwe header over the bar to preserve Portugal’s lead. The goalkeeper was grasping at thin air when substitute Frauscher took aim on 85 minutes, but the Austrian’s effort came crashing off the post.
The collective relief among the Portugal players was palpable and, despite some more late pressure from their spirited opponents, they held out to secure the nation’s maiden global title at U-17 level.
What they said…
“I feel so proud to coach these players. It was a hard journey, but with a lot of growing, for them and for me. After the great performance we had at the EURO’s, to be able to win the World Cup is fantastic. I congratulate them for everything they have have done, for everything they have been giving to the country and to Portuguese football.”
Bino, Portugal coach
“We are a generation with a lot of quality, not only the players who are here, but also the ones who could be here and aren’t. This is a fact that speaks a lot about the quality of Portuguese football too.”
Martim Chelmik, Portugal defender
“Right after the match, we’re obviously disappointed. In the second half, we showed our true colours again. We put up a great fight, but played a bit too passively in the first half. Our opponents were better than us there, we have to be honest about that. We can fly back to Austria with our heads held high”
Hermann Stadler, Austria coach
