Qatar 2026: Africa’s 10 teams learn their U17 World Cup group opponents

Qatar will host the FIFA U-17 World Cup from 19 November to 13 December 2026, with the expanded tournament featuring 48 teams in 12 groups of four.

The draw, held in Zurich on 21 May, confirmed representation from every confederation. Europe has 11 places, Oceania three and Africa 10, while the host nation occupies one of Asia’s nine berths.

The African teams involved are Algeria, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, Mali, Morocco, Mozambique, Uganda, Senegal and Tanzania. They have been placed in 10 different groups, with only Groups D and L containing no African side.

Five teams will make their World Cup debuts: Montenegro, Greece, Romania, Serbia and Vietnam. The 48 places have been allocated to Qatar and the teams that qualified through their respective continental competitions.

Mozambique face a difficult Group C alongside Argentina and Denmark, after reaching the tournament through the play-offs following a penalty shoot-out victory. Uganda, who also qualified on penalties, are in Group B with Korea Republic, Ecuador and New Caledonia.

Morocco, beaten on penalties in the continental final, will meet Spain in Group H. China and Fiji complete that section. Tanzania, the African finalists, have been drawn in Group I with Brazil, Republic of Ireland and Costa Rica.

Senegal, the African champions, are in Group F with Croatia, Cuba and Tajikistan. Mali will play Belgium, New Zealand and Vietnam in Group G, while Egypt have been grouped with Qatar, Panama and Greece.

Cote d’Ivoire face Italy, Jamaica and Uzbekistan. Algeria are in Group J and Cameroon in Group K, with each set to face a major North American nation as well as one of the European debutants. Montenegro are Algeria’s European opponent, while Romania will face Cameroon.

The group stage will be played as a round-robin competition, with every team meeting the other three sides in its section. The opening matches are scheduled for 19 November for Groups A to D, 20 November for Groups E to H and 21 November for Groups I to L.

The top two teams in each group will advance to the last 32, joined by the eight best third-placed sides. The knockout phase will then continue with the round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals and final. The tournament will comprise 104 matches.

Group D appears the strongest on paper, despite having no African representative, with France, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia and Haiti together. Group C also looks demanding, featuring Argentina, Denmark, Australia and Mozambique, while Brazil, Republic of Ireland, Tanzania and Costa Rica form Group I.

Among the African sides, Morocco’s Group H and Cote d’Ivoire’s Group E appear particularly challenging. Senegal’s Group F and Mali’s Group G look more open, while Algeria’s Group J and Cameroon’s Group K offer a more balanced mix involving three confederations.