Vietnam U-17 players arrive at the Hamad International Airport.
Doha, Qatar: With less than 10 days to go until the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2026, participating teams have begun arriving in Doha, Qatar. A total of 48 teams will compete for the coveted trophy across 104 matches held from November 19 to December 13.
Saudi Arabia, Cameroon, China, New Caledonia, Honduras, New Zealand, Vietnam, Republic of Korea, and Costa Rica, are amongst teams that have already arrived, with more making their way in the coming days.
This is the second of five consecutive editions Qatar will host through 2029, featuring the expanded 48-team format introduced last year.
Seven teams will make their historic debut in the competition: Greece, Montenegro, Mozambique, Romania, Serbia, Tanzania, and Vietnam.
Republic of Korea players and officials pose for a photo.
China will also return to the FIFA U-17 World Cup after a 21-year absence.
FIFA yesterday confirmed that all official squad lists have been confirmed, with over 1,000 players set to participate in 2026 edition.
The tournament will take place at the Competition Complex in Aspire Zone, transforming the venue into a vibrant football hub with up to eight matches a day during the group stage and Round of 32. The tournament’s unique centralised format proved to be a success in 2025, particularly for international scouts, who were able to observe emerging talents from a single venue. Hosts Qatar will play their first match of the tournament, against Panama on Thursday, November 19, 6:30pm in Aspire Zone. The Final will take place at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium on December 13, 7pm.
