FIFA has awarded hosting rights for the upcoming U-17 World Cups to Qatar (men's) and Morocco (women's) for five editions starting in 2025. Both tournaments will see an increase in participating teams, aligning with FIFA's recent trend of expanding major competitions.
In a move focused on infrastructure efficiency, FIFA announced Qatar and Morocco as the single hosts for the next five editions (2025-2029) of the U-17 World Cups. Qatar will host the expanded 48-team men's tournament, while Morocco will stage the 24-team women's competition.
This decision aligns with FIFA's recent efforts to broaden participation in major tournaments. The 2026 men's World Cup will see 48 teams compete, and the 2023 Women's World Cup expanded from 24 to 32 teams.
Both chosen nations have experience hosting major football events. Qatar successfully held the 2022 men's World Cup and the 2023 Asian Cup. Morocco co-hosted the Club World Cup on multiple occasions and is slated to host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. Additionally, Morocco is a co-host for the 2030 World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal.
This multi-year hosting arrangement allows FIFA to leverage existing infrastructure in Qatar and Morocco, promoting sustainability and cost-effectiveness for these U-17 World Cups.
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