FIFA confirms 48 nations for 2026 U-17 World Cup in Qatar

FIFA has officially announced the squad lists and participating nations for the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar, with 48 countries preparing to compete for the global youth football title between 19 November and 13 December.

Algeria are among the confirmed participants and will compete in Group J alongside the United States, Chile and Montenegro as they prepare for another opportunity to showcase their young talent on the international stage.

With the tournament fast approaching, FIFA and the organising committee have stepped up preparations for the competition, confirming the participating teams and releasing the official match schedule.

The announcement marks another important stage in the build-up to the tournament, which will bring together some of the most promising young footballers from around the world.

A total of 104 matches will be played during the competition, with Doha set to welcome supporters eager to watch the next generation of football talent.

Qatar prepares to host 48 nations

The 2026 edition of the FIFA U-17 World Cup will run from 19 November to 13 December, with all matches scheduled to take place at the Aspire Zone complex in Doha.

The state-of-the-art sporting facility will provide eight pitches for the tournament, ensuring that the competition can accommodate its expanded format.

The final will take place at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, one of the country’s major football venues, where the two remaining teams will compete for the trophy.

FIFA has also released the complete fixture schedule, providing details of match dates, venues and kick-off times for the participating nations.

The publication of the squad lists and fixtures gives teams and supporters a clearer picture of what to expect as preparations enter their final stages.

For Algeria, attention will be focused on their Group J campaign, where they face three different challenges against the United States, Chile and Montenegro.

The North African side will be hoping to make a strong impression against their group opponents and demonstrate the quality of their emerging generation.

Second consecutive 48-team tournament in Qatar

Qatar previously hosted the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2025, when the competition adopted a 48-team format for the first time.

That edition attracted considerable interest, with supporters turning out in large numbers to watch some of the brightest prospects in international football.

The tournament’s expanded format provided opportunities for more countries to compete at the global level while giving young players valuable experience against opponents from different footballing backgrounds.

Its success also helped establish Qatar as the host of another edition, with the country preparing to welcome the participating nations once again.

The 2026 competition will therefore build on the previous tournament, with 104 matches scheduled across the eight playing surfaces at the Aspire Zone complex.

U-17 World Cup has produced several football superstars

Over the years, the FIFA U-17 World Cup has served as an important platform for players who have gone on to establish themselves among the biggest names in world football.

Several internationally recognised stars have featured in the competition during their early careers, using the tournament as an opportunity to demonstrate their potential.

Among those who have appeared at the global youth competition are Luis Figo, Francesco Totti, Ronaldinho, Neymar, Xavi, Andrés Iniesta, Victor Osimhen and Phil Foden.

Their involvement underlines the tournament’s reputation as a platform for identifying and showcasing emerging football talent.

For the 48 participating countries, the 2026 edition represents another opportunity to introduce their next generation of players to the international stage.

With the squad lists and official fixtures now published, attention will increasingly turn towards the opening matches on 19 November.

The competition will conclude on 13 December with the final at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, where a new champion will be crowned.