FIFA has announced the full schedule for the 21st edition of the FIFA U-17 World Cup, with 48 teams set to compete in Qatar from 19 November to 13 December 2026. The tournament will run for more than three weeks and represents a significant change for the competition, which will now be staged annually and feature an expanded field of teams.
The opening match is scheduled to take place in Doha on 19 November, with hosts Qatar facing Panama at 15:30. An opening ceremony is expected to be held before kick-off.
The tournament will begin with the first round, which will last for just over a week and conclude on 27 November. The competition will then move into the knockout phase, beginning with the round of 32 on 30 November and 1 December.
Under the format selected by FIFA, the best-performing teams from each group will progress to the next stage. The 16 sides that qualify from the round of 32 will then contest the round of 16 on 3 and 4 December.
The quarter-finals are scheduled for 7 December, followed by the semi-finals on 10 December. The tournament will conclude with the third-place play-off and the final.
FIFA has listed those matches for 13 December 2026 in its competition schedule. The announcement also states that the classification match and final will be played on 14 December, creating a difference between the date given in the detailed timetable and the date cited in the tournament overview.
The 2026 edition marks a double turning point in the history of the FIFA U-17 World Cup. In addition to becoming an annual event, the competition will be expanded to include 48 participating teams.
The full schedule is:
– First round: 19-27 November 2026
– Round of 32: 30 November and 1 December 2026
– Round of 16: 3 and 4 December 2026
– Quarter-finals: 7 December 2026
– Semi-finals: 10 December 2026
– Third-place play-off and final: 13 December 2026
Qatar will host the tournament, with the opening fixture between Qatar and Panama marking the start of 25 days of competition. The event will bring together all 48 participating teams from 19 November, with the final stages taking place after the group phase and the subsequent knockout rounds.
