FIFA Announces Structural Changes to Under-17 World Cups

On Thursday, March 14, FIFA surprised the press by announcing a structural change in the Under-17 World Cups, both for men and women, causing a notable stir on social media platforms. In the case of the men’s tournament, the number of participating teams will increase from 24 to 48 for the next edition, effectively doubling the number of nations competing for the title next year. Additionally, a significant change in the tournament’s frequency was introduced, with it now being held annually instead of biennially.

However, the most striking announcement by FIFA was related to the designated hosts: the men’s championship will be held in Qatar for the next five consecutive editions. This means that the same country that hosted the last senior World Cup, where the Argentine National Team was crowned champion, will now host the Under-17 World Cup for an extended period.

Applying the same criteria used for scheduling the next five men’s Under-17 World Cups, the women’s tournament will also have a guaranteed host for the next five years. It will be held in Morocco from 2025 to 2029. It is worth noting that the 2024 edition is still in effect, as it will be held from October 16 of this year in the Dominican Republic with 16 participating teams. The following year, the number of slots will be modified, increasing to 24.

“These decisions were made following a global call to express interest in hosting both competitions, with a focus on leveraging the use of existing football infrastructure for the efficiency and sustainability of the tournaments,” said the FIFA statement.

Possible Consequences of FIFA’s Decision

The controversial decision to establish a fixed host for the next five years, when there are usually several countries competing year after year to host a youth World Cup, provokes outrage among those countries awaiting their chance to host such a significant event.

At the same time, the change in the competition’s frequency is a positive point for the developmental stages of each national team. This means that players who meet the age requirements can participate in more than one edition of the Under-17 World Cup, consolidating a schedule of high competitiveness.

However, one of the negative scenarios posed by this rule change is the “battle” with clubs to release players for training sessions, friendlies, and, of course, for each youth World Cup. So far, these are mere speculations, but the plan has been formalized, and its impact will be seen in the short to medium term.