Qatar will host the next five editions of the boys’ Under-17 World Cup from 2025 to 2029, while the girls’ tournament will be held in Morocco, FIFA confirmed on Thursday.
The world football governing body said in December that both youth tournaments would be conducted yearly beginning next year, with the boys’ event expanding from 24 to 48 teams. The number of participating girls’ teams will also grow, from 16 to 24.
FIFA stated that the choice to select a single host nation for numerous editions was based on the opportunity to make “use of existing footballing infrastructure in the interest of tournament efficiencies and sustainability”.
Qatar hosted the 2022 men’s World Cup and this year’s Asian Cup after taking over from China, the original host.
Morocco will co-host the 2030 World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal, with three matches taking place in South America to commemorate the country’s centenary.
Qatar and Morocco have hosted the Club World Cup on numerous times. Morocco is also set to host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
The expansion of the Under-17 World Cup echoes a larger FIFA trend, with the men’s 2026 World Cup featuring 48 teams for the first time. Last year’s Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand saw the field expand from 24 to 32 nations.