The 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup is set to take place in Qatar this November, with the draw for the 48-team tournament scheduled for May 21 in Zurich, Switzerland.
The announcement comes as China’s U-17 national team secured a historic 2-0 victory over Qatar in the U-17 Asian Cup early Wednesday morning Beijing time, punching their ticket to the U-17 World Cup for the first time in 21 years. He Sifan and Zhang Bolin scored the goals that sealed the win in Saudi Arabia.
This edition marks the second tournament under FIFA’s new annual format for the U-17 World Cup, and the second to feature 48 teams. Previously, the competition was held every two years with only 24 sides.
As part of the reform, FIFA also granted Qatar hosting rights for five consecutive tournaments, from 2025 through 2029.
Portugal, the reigning champions after winning their first title in 2025, will not be able to defend their crown as they failed to qualify for this year’s event.
