FIFA has officially revealed the seeding pots for the 2025 U17 World Cup draw, with Morocco, Ivory Coast, and Tunisia among ten African nations awaiting their group stage opponents.
The draw is scheduled for Sunday, 25 May, in Doha, Qatar, which will host the tournament from 3 to 27 November.
This edition marks a historic expansion of the competition, with the number of participating teams growing from 24 to 48.
It is the first time the tournament will feature twelve groups, each comprising four teams.
The top two in each group, along with the eight best third-placed teams, will advance to the round of 32.
Africa will be represented by ten teams—more than double the four from the previous edition—following a strong showing in the most recent U17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Qualified teams include Morocco, Ivory Coast, Tunisia, Burkina Faso, Egypt, Mali, Senegal, South Africa, Uganda, and Zambia.
Senegal and Mali have earned top billing, placed in Pot 1 alongside tournament hosts Qatar and defending champions Germany.
Their recent performances have cemented their reputation as serious contenders on the global stage.
Senegal, who reached the latter stages of the last U17 AFCON, and Mali, a consistent force in youth competitions, are expected to lead Africa’s charge.
Morocco, runners-up in the last U17 AFCON, and Burkina Faso, who also made an impressive showing, have been placed in Pot 2.
They are seen as potential dark horses in the competition and will likely provide stiff opposition for higher-seeded teams.
Ivory Coast, Tunisia, and South Africa find themselves in Pot 3, indicating a more challenging path as they face the possibility of being drawn with multiple top-ranked teams.
Meanwhile, Zambia, Egypt, and Uganda complete Africa’s representation in Pot 4, meaning they are likely to face the toughest opposition in the group stage.
1 continent, 𝐓𝐄𝐍 representatives. 🌍
FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025, here we come! 🤩#TotalEnergiesAFCONU17 pic.twitter.com/qGLNauzqOw
— CAF_Online (@CAF_Online) April 12, 2025
The draw, which will be streamed live on FIFA.com, promises to set the stage for a compelling tournament that will test the depth and development of youth football across all continents.
Seeding pots for the U17 World Cup Qatar 2025
Pot 1: Qatar, Brazil, France, Mali, Germany, Mexico, Argentina, England, Japan, Paraguay, United States, Senegal
Pot 2: South Korea, Morocco, Uzbekistan, Italy, Belgium, New Zealand, Chile, Venezuela, Croatia, Colombia, Honduras, Burkina Faso
Pot 3: Costa Rica, Tajikistan, Panama, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Tunisia, New Caledonia, Canada, South Africa, Austria, Haiti
Pot 4: United Arab Emirates, Portugal, Czech Republic, Ireland, Switzerland, Zambia, Egypt, Uganda, Bolivia, Saudi Arabia, El Salvador, Fiji
With the draw imminent, all eyes will be on Doha as the continent waits to see which paths lie ahead for its ten hopefuls.
