Indonesian football has a bright chance to compete at the U.17 World Cup

Indonesia is in group 3 seed.

The 2025 U.17 World Cup Finals marks the first time FIFA has doubled the number of teams participating in this tournament, from 24 to 48. Of which, Asia has 8 slots and 1 wild card for the host country, Qatar. Indonesia is 1 of 9 Asian teams competing in the 2025 U.17 World Cup, and is the sole representative of Southeast Asia.

The world's largest tournament for the U.17 age group will be held in November 2025 in Qatar. So far, 48 names have been fully determined. The tournament organizers have also announced 4 seed groups before the draw. Accordingly, Indonesia is in seed group number 3. Two other Asian teams are also in seed group number 3: Tajikistan and North Korea. Notably, Indonesia is in a higher seed group than some developed football teams in the old continent such as Portugal and Switzerland (both in seed group number 4).

- Ảnh 1. — 4 seed groups at the 2025 U.17 World Cup. U.17 Indonesia is in seed group number 3, considered to have the ability to compete for a ticket to the knockout round.

Group 1 is home to youth teams from the world's top football powers such as Brazil, England, Germany, France, Argentina, etc. The two Asian teams in Group 1 are Japan and Qatar (as hosts). South Korea and Uzbekistan are both in Group 3. UAE and Saudi Arabia are both in Group 4.

Have a chance to enter the knockout round

This is the second time Indonesia has participated in the U.17 World Cup. However, in the first time participating in the tournament, U.17 Indonesia competed as the host team. But at present, the youth football of the archipelago country has made great progress. U.17 Indonesia made a strong impression at the 2025 U.17 Asian Cup, to win a ticket to the 2025 U.17 World Cup.

In the group stage of the 2025 AFC U-17 Championship, Indonesia U-17 won all 3 matches. In which, the team from the archipelago defeated the strong opponent Korea U-17 in the opening match. Indonesia U-17's journey stopped in the quarter-finals of the Asian tournament, when the Southeast Asian representative lost 0-6 to Korea U-17.

As mentioned, Indonesian youth football deserves to make great strides after systematic investment efforts. The increase of the number of teams to 48 at the 2025 U.17 World Cup also increases the competition opportunities for representatives from Southeast Asia.

At the 2025 U.17 World Cup, 48 teams are divided equally into 12 groups. Accordingly, the top 2 teams in each group (24 teams) and the 8 third-placed teams with the best results will advance to the round of 32, playing a direct elimination match. With this competition format, U.17 Indonesia is considered to have a "chance" to pass the group stage of the 2025 U.17 World Cup.

From 2025, the U.17 World Cup will be held annually, instead of every two years as before. FIFA has also awarded the right to host the U.17 World Cup to Qatar for 5 consecutive years, from 2025 to 2029.

Germany are the reigning champions of the U.17 World Cup, having been crowned champions in Indonesia in 2023. Nigeria are the record winners of the tournament with five titles, followed by Brazil with four.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/bong-da-indonesia-sang-cua-canh-tranh-tai-u17-world-cup-185250428140611129.htm